By Paul M. Jerard Jr.

How much attention, to proper alignment, do you see in Yoga classes? How fast is the pace of the class? Are students being asked about pre-existing injuries before participating in a Yoga session?

Proper alignment, while practicing, is so important because of the benefits over time. At the same time, poor alignment can cause injuries. Yoga should be taught by a competent instructor, who is watching participants perform a given technique.

Yoga teachers should demonstrate how a technique is to be performed. At the same time, teachers should observe their students perform that specific technique. At no time should teachers take their eyes off their students and relax. The teacher’’s experience is in stark contrast to that of the student.

Teaching Yoga posture (asana), or breathing techniques (pranayama), requires a sincere effort to guide students safely. This brings to mind an issue, which is of prime importance: Is the pace of the class geared toward the level of the student? How many Sun Salutations or Vinyasa sequences start with a slow and mindful pace?

The reason why a series of postures should be performed slowly, on the first few rounds, is so that students are reminded of proper alignment. Experienced students, who have left their practice aside for months, or years, should not jump into a class without a refresher class that is geared toward beginners.

This may sound prudent, but no student should be allowed to compromise established safety precautions. Letting a student arrive late, and thereby skipping the warm-up component of a class, is a risky policy. If that same student is injured, due to by-passing warm-ups, who will be blamed for it?

This leads to another issue, which Yoga studios are very casual about - the establishment of firm policies to avoid injuries. For example: You should post student policies on your bulletin board, on your website, as well as hand them out to new students.

In your application process, you should inquire about pre-existing injuries. If a student has a pre-existing neck injury, aneurism, or glaucoma, a Yoga teacher would not want to put a student at risk of worsening his/her present condition.

In the case of a new student, who arrives late for the first class, that person should not be admitted to the practice. The reason being - how would a Yoga teacher know anything about the health of a student, who the teacher has never had a chance to talk with prior to that class? If this student has any pre-existing health conditions, everyone is put at risk, as the student’’s well-being, the Yoga studio, and the Yoga teacher’’s career, are all in jeopardy.

All of this adds up to setting firm safety policies in place. At the same time, Yoga teachers should continue their education and be prepared for a variety of diversified situations.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

About The Author

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

By Paul M. Jerard Jr.

All of the subjects mentioned below will require much additional research on your part, but let’’s briefly go over a question and answer session about students who need special care in your classes.

Q: Over the weekend, I met up with a student that is in her early twenties (about 23-24, maybe) and she is interested in Yoga. She is in her first trimester of her third pregnancy. Is there something I should be concerned with?

I have been to many Yoga classes in the past where there were indeed women far into their pregnancies and noted that my instructor paid some special attention to them on the dos and don'’ts.

A: About the first trimester of pregnancy: Unfortunately, the potential for liability suits has caused many of us to reconsider, and advise my students toward a prenatal specialist. It is much safer for pregnant students in a specialized class, under the guidance of a prenatal Yoga specialist.

Q: Another thing is about hip replacements: A student (in her fifties) had hip replacements about 14 years ago. Are there any concerns I need to be aware of or let her know her limitations?

A: Yoga for Hip Replacements: I strongly recommend researching this subject thoroughly before teaching this student. Needless to say, there are many contraindications, which relate to the specific type of hip replacement.

It is advisable to ask a student, with a hip replacement, for her doctor’’s recommendation or a doctor’’s note explaining the type of hip replacement.

The exact surgical approach her doctor took is very important. For example: Was it a total replacement? Was the implant posterior or anterior? Each of these situations is different and some postures will be modified or eliminated entirely as a result.

Q: While I am on the subject, my neighbor (late 40′’s) had neck surgery about 6 years ago, and I know that her cervical region is limited. Are there any concerns here?

A: Yes, there are many concerns. In the case of Yoga for a pre-existing cervical spine injury: Anything that causes her pain in the spine must be stopped.

This condition depends upon her doctor’’s advice, because of the type of surgery and the source of the problem. Extreme bending or twisting, in the neck, should be modified or deleted from her practice. It is important to note that neck rolls, and neck hyperextensions, should not be practiced by any student, regardless of their medical history.

Some mild bending or twisting may also cause pain. In this case, she should not push into pain. Students with pre-existing problems, anywhere in the spine, have to respect and avoid pain.

Yoga teachers should be cautious and give gentle guidance, when a student has any form of a pre-existing health condition or injury. In some cases, Yoga teachers should refer their students to a Yoga specialist.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

About The Author

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html