How To Find The Best Yoga Teacher for You

{"slug":"find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you","recentPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for Pregnancy is excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor. Read more to understand the benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n⁠\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n⁠\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\n\\nBeen sitting too long\\n? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\n⁠⁠A prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery. \n⁠ \\nTake a bath :\n⁠\n⁠Taking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \n⁠\\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n⁠\n⁠This week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"cl8ka13l4ionz0ck2fe0pme7l","slug":"chronic-neck-pain-relief-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Are you suffering with Chronic Neck Pain? 10 yoga poses to find relief!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:11:15.683866+00:00","coverUrl":"rbh6duxy7hy3y207sg1c.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you suffer from chronic neck pain? Nearly 30-50% of adults suffer from recurring neck pain. \\nNeck pain can be a common occurrence for people who:\\nhave long commutes or sit at a desk all day\\nwho have issues with posture \\nwho have chronic sleep issues\\nOur neck and shoulders can also be a place where we may carry tension or pain due to stress. In any case, the good news is yoga can help you to relieve your neck pain and move on symptom free! \\nDaily changes you can make to avoid neck pain\\nStay in alignment. Keep good posture and try not to carry heavy bags on one side of your body. Also, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, move your monitor to eye-sight so you’re not looking up or down. Need help finding your center? \\nWe can help here at MyYogaTeacher! \\n\\nStay active! It’s important to stay mobilized.  If you sit all day, take breaks to move around and give your body a break from being stuck in one position. Can’t take breaks at work? Try to go for a walk on lunch or maybe before or after your workday. \\nCheck your sleep environment. Make sure your mattress and pillows are still in good shape. Look into the best pillows for your sleep type or body. Getting quality sleep will help you avoid tossing and turning and can be your remedy to wake pain free. \\nIf you’re feeling like you need to move, starting with any slower yoga practice will help! Yin, hatha and restorative classes will all leave your body feeling relaxed, renewed and free of pain. Want to flow on your own? Here are our top ten poses to try! \\n10 Yoga Poses to relieve Chronic Neck Pain :\\n1. Easy seat with ear to shoulder stretch\\nThis pose releases your neck and shoulders and helps relieve tension and stress.\\nStart by sitting with your legs crossed and a straight back. Shoulders down. Bring your ear down to your shoulder. To deepen the stretch, bring your opposite arm overhead. \\n\\n\\n\\n2. Child’s Pose\\nReleases tension in the upper body including the neck and chest.\\nBring your knees as wide as the mat and sit into your heels. You can bring your chest to the mat and extend your arms forward or come to rest on a pillow or bolster. Try to hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. \\n\\n\\n\\n3. Downward facing dog\\nHelps to relieve neck pain by strengthening the upper body and releasing the spine. \\nStart by coming onto all fours. Check your alignment- make sure your shoulders are over your wrist, and your hips over your knees. Without changing the position of your hands and feet, push up and back to bring your heels into the ground. Relax your head, neck and shoulders down. \\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge Pose\\nReleases chest, neck, spine and hips.\\nLay down on your mat, bring your feet as close to your glutes as possible. Bring your hands to the sides of your body palms down. Push into the feet and hands while you lift your core and back to the ceiling. Try to relax and breathe here. \\n\\n\\n\\n5. Wide Leg forward fold\\nReleases spine, neck and back. If you’re in pain perform this stretch slowly, and come up one vertebrae at a time. \\nBring your feet as wide as you can, feet facing forward. Hinge at the hips and slowly bend forward and down towards your feet. You can hang here or grab yogi toe lock around your big toe. \\n\\n\\n\\n6. Cow face pose\\nStrengthens core and spine.\\nSit up tall and stack your knees directly over one another. Reach one arm back around your waist and one arm over your shoulder with your palms reaching towards one another. If you can, clasp your hands. If not, rest them on your back, you will still benefit from the pose. \\n\\n\\n\\n7. Sphinx pose\\nThis pose will help to physically open up the shoulders and neck. Looking side to side slowly is a great addition to the pose. \\nLie on your stomach and bring your hands next to your chest facing down. On your inhale press into the ground and lift your upper body. \\n\\n\\n\\n8. Thread the Needle \\nIncreases mobility and releases tension in the upper body. \\nCome on to all fours. Check your alignment, make sure your hips are over your knees, shoulders over your wrist. Reach one arm out to the side and thread it through the opposite side under your ribs. You can stay here or open up the opposite side by reaching the hand to the back or straight up and over. Make sure to do both sides. \\n\\n\\n\\n9. Legs up the wall\\nReleases tension and stress from the upper body by reversing blood flow. \\nFind a wall near your practice space and sit next to the wall as close as possible. Lower your head, neck and shoulders onto your mat, then roll onto your back and stretch your legs up the wall. You can stay in this restorative pose for up to 10 minutes. \\n\\n\\n\\n10. Savasana\\nSavasana releases any stress, lowers heart rate and calms the body. \\nCome onto your back on your mat, and release your body down. This is known as corpse pose because it is a full and final rest at the end of our practice. Release and let go of any and all tension. \\n\\n\\n\\nClasses to help relieve neck pain \\n\\nYoga fusion for joints \\n- This class will help you roll out your joint pain and stretch your tight limbs and joints. \\n\\nYoga for Back Pain\\n - Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by tightness in the spine. Experts say yoga helps soothe muscle pains. Try this class to strengthen and lengthen your neck and back for pain relief! \\n\\nYoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain\\n - Do you sit all day at work? Struggle with your posture? This class will help relieve upper body tension. \\n\nSo if you’re ready to make your neck pain a thing of the past, join us today. Our trial includes two free weeks of group fitness classes, one on one classes and so much more! \\nGet started on your yoga journey now!\\n"},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"cl8cuq5nnh5860biyek2vhu2w","slug":"reproductive-rights-for-women-yoga-workshop","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop - Supporting Women Through Yoga","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-22T09:28:27.679552+00:00","coverUrl":"dkjwcigamkavxe0yziwq.jpg","content":{"text":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in the wisdom of women to make their own choices about their health. \\n\\nThat’s why we’re excited to offer the\\n Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop on October 2 from 9 AM - 11 AM PST (12 PM - 2 PM EST) for only $10!\\nIn the past, our community events have been free. So why are we charging a nominal fee for this one?\\nBecause ALL proceeds from the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop go to support the \\nCenter for Reproductive Rights\\n charity, a nonprofit organization, the \\nonly\\n global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive rights.\\nIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade and on the day before the new term of the Supreme Court begins, we think this workshop is a perfect way to silently protest this new ruling through self-care and donations to an organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights.\\nThis will also be a time of healing and processing with a couple of awesome expert yoga instructors!\\nHow to join the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop\\nWhether you’re a member or not, \\nJust click this link and register \\nas you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nIntroducing a very special guest yoga instructor coming just for this event!\n\\nMeet Harpinder Mann, RYT-500!\\n\\n\n\\nHarpinder is a yoga, meditation, mindfulness teacher, and decolonizing activist based in Los Angeles. She works with women of color who want to reclaim their power and intuition through the lens of a spiritual, joyful, and sustainable path. Her studies have spanned from reading the Japji Sahib since she was 3, to over 700 hours of yogic training within the traditions of Raja, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Prenatal Yoga. \\nWe’re super excited to have her lead the beginning of the workshop. Afterwards, MyYogaTeacher yoga instructor, \\nTrupti Parikh\\n, will lead us in asanas, and a discussion session will follow.\\nAre you ready to experience a workshop where we solely focus on supporting and advocating for women’s health \\nwhile\\n improving our mental, emotional, and physical health?\\n\\nJoin us for the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\n\\nTogether, we make a difference."},"category":["workshops"]},{"id":"cl8a9804vy5de0biznpg4ai2t","slug":"yoga-benefits-for-runners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Runners : Why Runners Should Incorporate Yoga Into Their Training?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Adopting an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Read now to learn more","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-20T13:50:56.406936+00:00","coverUrl":"tbdacuzob0fuqml8dyjd.jpg","content":{"text":"Training for a big race? Setting some goals you want to crush before the year ends? No matter what your reasons, yoga can be a great way to cross train for running from a 5k to a marathon! Running is great for your heart and body but can also be a huge strain on the muscles. Having an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Let’s dive into how yoga can help!\\n1. Breathing\\nProper breathing and breath stabilization are both incredibly important principles in Yoga and Running. If you can practice proper breathing while running, you can maintain speed longer because you will take long deeper breaths to match your long strides, instead of short breaths which cause instability and speed decline.\\nPracticing Pranayama for runners - \\nAdding a pranayama breath practice before a run can help you to maintain focus as well as speed. Even if running is a release for you, and feels relaxing, Using breathwork to relax and focus can help you clearly see the physical and mental road ahead. Pranayama can also help if things are going off course on your run. If you need to regain control, you can come back to your breath and refocus. With these practices together, your run really can be a religious experience, or a way to relieve stress! \\nTo start a pranayama practice, all you need to do is focus on controlling your inhale and exhale. Start by standing tall and relaxed, or sitting tall and calm if you prefer. Close your eyes and focus inward. Start by breathing in for two and out for two. As you continue to grow your practice, you can  build up to breathing in for six and out for six. You can even play with pausing for two to four breaths in between your inhale and exhale. When you finally build a practice you’re confident with, you can start to set intentions and visualize your success. With this practice, you’ll begin to see your running dreams come true!\\n\\n2. Flexibility/Strength\\nIt would be great if in life, we only ever needed to do one thing to get to our goals. But in reality,just like we can’t have cookies for every meal, cross training for runners is essential to maintaining a long term healthy routine. While you could easily just add weight training or stretching a la cart into your week, yoga gives you more by going deeper and getting into those smaller, harder to access ligaments and tendons you might otherwise miss with strength training . Adding yoga into your running routine can reduce the risk of injury and help to maintain your goals. The more flexible your muscles are, the less likely they are to tense up or be stressed during running so you can move with more confidence and ease. Not to mention, it’s always great to look forward to a nice long stretch after a run. \\n\n3. Conditioning \\nWe all know running is GREAT for your cardiovascular health, can add years on to your life and keep your heart pumping at its best! But it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran, running can make your body sore. Yoga is great for conditioning those tired and fatigued muscles without having to “take a day off” to rest. In between your runs or on conditioning days, you can take a class focused on your back or knee health, or even a class to open tight hips after a long run. There’s nothing the magic of yoga can’t do! \\n\n4. Balance/Posture\\nEven though running is a “walk in the park” compared to ballet where balance is concerned, you still need to do your best to focus on alignment while you move.\\nYoga can improve your running form by elongating the limbs so you cover more ground in less time. You'll be PR’ing in no time! Proper alignment is also important when running because as you increase your speed, the level of impact (and injury) becomes greater. Maintaining your body's alignment during movement assures you arrive at the finish line aliment free! Love a tree pose? Want to learn to fly into a warrior? Lots of yoga poses force you to balance on one leg, which helps you to build a unilateral movement practice much like the ebbs and flows you take while running. \\n5. Stress and Mental Clarity\\nFeeling stressed before a big run? Worried about your PR? Yoga can help! Focus your breathing and set an intention. You’ve got this!\\nFocus and clarity are so important when running so you can know where you’re headed and stay on track. Add your yoga practice in before training or race days and you’ll feel your worries melt away. According to scientists at \\nHarvard,\\n adding just minutes of yoga to your week can improve your outlook, slow down the body and decrease stress. You’ll find your body will be more relaxed, focused and ready to run for those goals when you release your tension with yoga. \\nGetting started:\\nSo what do you need to get started? Simple! Yourself, a mat, some water and a quiet space are all you need! Are you ready to add yoga into your running routine? \\nGet started with a two week free trial of our classes and one on one sessions!\\n\\nLet’s figure out where your yoga practice would serve you best! \\nDoing yoga BEFORE your run will help you to warm up your muscles and ligaments. By fully warming up your body before you hit the pavement, you decrease the chances of injury, help with an easier recovery and can improve your PR as you continue to train! \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice before a run :\\nHigh Lunge - This pose stretches the legs from top of the thighs down to the ankle\\n\\nWarrior II - Helps with focus and stamina. Great before heading out!\\n\\nSide angle bend - This stretch helps to stretch the side body and release any tension in the shoulders and spine. \\n\\n⁠Prefer to do yoga after your run? That’s a great option too! Yoga is great for recovery after a run! Finishing your running routine with a yoga stretch helps you to rebalance. You can stretch muscles or limbs that became tight during your run and strengthen anything  that may have become fatigued. You can also refocus and deepen your breath to reset for the next part of your day. \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice after a run :\\nButterfly Pose - a basic hip opener to ease into your stretch\\n\\nHalf Pigeon - A great pose for multiple alignments! Working through the psoas and hip flexors. Make sure to practice on both sides.\\n\\nHappy Baby - This pose is great for finishing up your hip opener extension while giving a nice massage to the back and stretching the soles of the feet.\\n\\nWant to take a class? Try some of our favorite classes for runners!\\n\\nYoga for Strength and flexibility \\n\\n\\nYoga for Knee Pain\\n\\n\\nYoga for Back health\\n\\nReady to join us for class? \\nGet started with a free trial now! \\n\\nRemember, with a great training plan for your runs, and an ongoing yoga practice you’ll be ready to run to your greatest finish line feeling and looking your best! Just like peanut butter and jelly, yoga and running are great together!"},"category":["fitness","yoga"]},{"id":"cl81n0o6wh1g80ajz2gpco553","slug":"yoga-at-home","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How to Start Doing Yoga at Home","subTitle":"Everything you need to know for an at-home yoga routine","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Get a beginner’s guide to starting yoga at home with tips and suggestions for setting up your own practice, including online yoga classes and private lessons.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to perform yoga at home with this quick and easy guide","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-14T13:07:13.39269+00:00","coverUrl":"cqivxw3vkrcihpumlny7.jpg","content":{"text":"There are lots of reasons for doing yoga at home instead of a yoga studio, some of which include distance, busy schedules, kids, financial concerns, and health issues. The good news is you can set up your own yoga practice at home, and still get all the benefits of a regular yoga routine — without the studio. It can also be a great way to integrate yoga into your life on a regular basis, and it’s easy to do in your own home.\\nCan Anyone do Yoga at Home?\\nAnyone can perform yoga at home, and you don’t have to be an advanced yogi to try. Even beginners can practice yoga in a home environment, all you need is adequate floor space, a few (optional) pieces of equipment, and guidelines for practicing the primary yoga poses. \\nIf you’re a beginner, it’s recommended to first learn from a certified yoga instructor, so you can progress with the proper technique and alignment to avoid injury. Thanks to online learning platforms like\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, you can still practice yoga at home with the help of a qualified teacher.\\n11 Tips on How to Perform Yoga At Home\\nThe idea of starting a yoga practice in your very own living room can seem daunting or intimidating at first, especially if you’re accustomed to attending classes in a yoga studio. But with a little bit of preparation and creativity, you can set up your own yoga space and develop a mindful yoga routine that can benefit your life.\\nHere are some suggestions to help get you started:\\n1. Make Space in Your Home for Yoga\\nIt’s easy (and fun) to make your own yoga space, and you can design it as a temporary space or a dedicated one, depending on your needs. All you need is enough floor space to move around and stretch out the full length of your body — a little more than the length and width of your yoga mat. This can be your living or bedroom floor, your kitchen, or your backyard. Just make sure there isn’t any furniture or objects lying around that could get in your way or cause injury.\\n2. Decorate With Calming Accessories\\nYou can also create a comfortable and inviting space for yoga by hanging calming or inspiring artwork on the wall, lighting a candle or incense, and keeping a few house plants nearby for a pleasing atmosphere. The more you can tailor and dedicate your space for yoga, the easier it will be to motivate yourself to keep up a steady routine. Hanging a mirror in front of your practice space is also helpful in maintaining the correct alignment while performing postures.\\n3. Be Prepared With the Right Equipment\\n\\nYou’ll want to invest in a yoga mat, and it’s wise to also keep modifying props on hand — like blocks, bolsters, blankets, and a strap. If you’re just starting out and you’d like to improvise for props, you can use pillows, blankets, and other items around the house to suit your needs. Just make sure your props are sturdy, supportive, and nearby for when you need them.\\n4. Practice Regularly\\nThe best part about practicing yoga at home is it can be done any time you want. The challenge lies in your dedication and commitment to the practice even when your couch appears more inviting.\\n \\nAccording to this study\\n, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to create a new habit. It’s important to be patient with yourself and identify guidelines for your practice that you can realistically follow through with. \\n5. Schedule Your Yoga Session\\nSet yourself up for success by committing to your yoga practice at a certain time of day, and for a specified number of days per week. It’s best to start out easy with goals that are achievable and progress as you gain momentum. For instance, if you’ve never been an early riser, don’t expect yourself to suddenly start practicing yoga at dawn. If that’s the case, try scheduling your yoga session for late morning, afternoon or evening, and keep your existing schedule in mind when planning a time that works for you.\\n6. Keep it Simple\\nRegardless of your experience or ability level, practicing yoga at home means watching out for your own safety. Make sure you have props handy for when you need them, and avoid overdoing it with strenuous poses. When it doubt, keep your routine simple. Even if you’re an advanced yogi, those basic, primary yoga poses are still an important part of a holistic yoga practice, and may be less likely to cause injury.\\n7. Listen to Your Body\\nThe best way to avoid getting hurt while practicing yoga at home is to listen to your body. If any posture causes you discomfort or pain, stop practicing it immediately — no matter how easy or difficult the pose. Don’t push yourself too hard, and remember to focus on your alignment. If you are unsure of how to execute a specific pose, try learning it from a certified instructor before performing it on your own at home.\\n8. Take an Online Yoga Class\\n\\nBy far the best way to practice yoga at home is with an online class. This way, you get all the benefits of doing yoga at home in your own time, with the added help of an instructor who can make sure you’re performing poses safely and effectively. You can find\\n online group classes\\n for every type of yoga at\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, with over 42 classes offered throughout the day. Private, 1-on-1 instructors are also available for at-home yoga, giving you plenty of options to get the right kind of training while still practicing in the comfort of your own home.\\n9. Squeeze in a Short Practice\\nThe beauty of an at-home yoga practice means you can squeeze in a quick session when you just have 20-30 minutes of time. Even short yoga routines are beneficial for your body and mind, and performing a few of the primary yoga poses on a daily basis will change your life for the better. Try incorporating the Sun Salutation flow series into your morning routine when you first get out of bed in the morning, or practicing some relaxing poses like Legs-Up-The-Wall or Savasana in the evening. \\n10. Switch it Up and Make it Fun\\nYoga doesn’t always have to be serious, and you can make your home yoga practice fun and spontaneous for you and your family. Practicing with your kids is a great way to help them learn mindfulness and self-awareness, while stretching and strengthening their growing bodies. You can also take your practice to the backyard to enjoy sunshine and good weather, or invite friends over to share in the experience. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!\\n11. End Every Practice With Savasana\\nWhen practicing yoga at home, it can be tempting to skip important parts of the journey due to time constraints, distractions, or disinterest. If there is one element of yoga you should never skip, it’s Savasana, or otherwise known as Corpse pose. Always end your practice with 5 minutes of relaxation to help your body integrate the routine. Keep a blanket nearby to warm your body after it has cooled down, and consider an eye pillow to help you relax. Your body and mind will thank you as you move on to the rest of your day, having given yourself the gift of healthy movement to better your life."},"category":["yoga","therapy"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"ckquzp4pk33gf0b2155crovix","slug":"before-you-meditate","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"10 Things You Should Know Before You Start Meditating","createdAt":"2021-07-08T14:12:47.965022+00:00","coverUrl":"rimflxvurbzhsoxolcr2.jpg","content":{"text":"We all want that experience that experienced meditators talk about.\\nThat magical time when you’re totally and completely relaxed and in a sort of euphoric, beautiful state. It’s calm and quiet. You’re centered and grounded.\\nBut it’s not actual magic.\\nA meditation practice takes...well, practice. It doesn’t come naturally to most people. But the more you do it, the easier it gets, and the more benefit you receive from it.\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nA deep meditation is amazing. But here’s what you should know before starting your journey.\\n1. Don’t expect to have a blank mind.\\nIt is the brain’s natural state to jump from thought to thought to thought. The purpose of meditation isn’t to create a blank mind but to become more aware of the thoughts you’re having and guide your mind back to your meditation practice.\\nMany types of meditation actually emphasize the art of being mindful of thoughts as they arise.\\n2. You don’t need to sit in a particular position.\\nWhile it is often recommended that you sit or lay on the floor or ground, it isn’t necessary. It’s more important to be comfortable and in a place or position that helps you feel grounded. \\nOf note, unless it’s a sleep meditation or body scan meditation, lying down during your meditation practice might not be your best option. Unless you don’t mind falling asleep!\\n3. Meditation comes with health perks.\\nOne of our other instructors discussed this in their article, but we can’t emphasize this enough. Meditation helps reduce stress, blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. It improves sleep, increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness, and boosts the immune system.\\nA regular meditation practice can even help you kick smoking or alcohol addictions to the curb!\\n4. Meditation actually changes your brain.\\nIt’s true, meditation is scientifically proven to alter your brain...in a good way! \\nStudies show that mindfulness practices thicken  the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for things like concentration and awareness. In this case, thicker is a good thing.\\nAlso, meditation is proven to reduce the brain’s fight or flight response. This means your body responds better to stress resulting in lower cortisol levels and better health.\\n5. Lots of famous people you’ve heard of meditate!\\nI’m sure you knew Oprah meditates. That is a given.\\nBut did you know that Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfield, Howard Stern, Barbara Walters, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Will Smith and even Clint Eastwood also meditate?!\\nAnd they don’t mind letting people know about it either. They understand the power of meditating!\\n6. You may not think you’re doing it right the first time.\\nIt’s ok.\\nThe first time you meditate may feel awkward, strange, uncomfortable. It may just feel like you’re doing it wrong.\\nYou may feel like this the second or third or even fourth time. Stick with it. Just like your yoga practice or anything else you want to be better at, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.\\nThe better you get, the more benefits you’ll experience.\\n7. Reflect on how you feel.\\nIt’ll be important, especially during the early days of your practice, to take a step back and reflect on how you feel in between practices.\\nIt is not uncommon to feel bored, discouraged, or distracted during or after a meditation session. Hopefully, as you go, you’ll have more times of feeling happy, energized, relaxed and calm. Either way, take note of how your days and weeks go.\\nYou might be surprised how quickly you start to experience the benefits of meditation.\\n8. You don’t need a mantra, and you don’t have to chant.\\nSome people are wary of meditating because they’re uncomfortable with chanting or having a mantra. They just want to be silent.\\nAnd that’s totally fine.\\nMantras, chanting, and sound are tools many people use to facilitate their meditation practice. But they aren’t necessary to reaping the rewards of one. However, your mind will have a tendency to wander. It’s completely normal. And a mantra, chanting, or even just counting your breaths will help bring your mind back to your practice.\\n9. You can meditate with a purpose or for general health.\\nThere are many types of meditation, but there are many more ways to practice those different types. \\nSome people meditate specifically to ease anxiety, depression, or to reduce their stress levels. Maybe they want to become more grateful, kind, or compassionate. There are plenty of specific reasons for one to meditate.\\nIt’s also completely ok to meditate for wellness. \\n10. You DO have time.\\nYou want to know the truth?\\nWe make time for the things that are important to us. No matter what that is. \\nIncorporating meditation into your daily life doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. Even 5 minutes a day can be beneficial. And you’ll probably find that after a while, 5 minutes a day won’t feel like enough and you’ll be more inclined to carve out more time for an even deeper meditation practice.\\nIf you’re new to meditation, start with shorter increments and see how you feel!\\nThere are many ways to learn how to meditate, and the world is your oyster when it comes to all the varieties of meditation practices. It can be hard to choose what’s best for you when you’re new to it.\\nI encourage you to try some of the breathing and meditation classes offered on myYogaTeacher! If you’re a member, you may have already tried some of them. If not, \\nclick here to grab your free 2-week trial\\n! All of the instructors at myYogaTeacher are experts in yoga and meditation and most come from the birthplace of yoga and meditation, India! We’d love for you to have an authentic meditation experience!"}},{"id":"ckwv07gf4j0rs0c731n9qyawp","slug":"hardest-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"How to Land the Top 5 Impossibly Possible Yoga Poses","createdAt":"2021-12-06T18:25:16.642662+00:00","coverUrl":"snoarojvww2rcerbmheq.jpg","content":{"text":"No matter where you are in your yoga journey, there will always be poses you are striving to master! Even masters of yoga haven’t mastered everything!\\nAnd that’s completely ok. Wonderful, even!\\nStriving to achieve more advanced poses means you are always growing, learning, and your yoga journey will continue to be interesting and motivating. It also means you are constantly learning more about yourself, becoming more self aware, and improving your mental, emotional, and physical health.\\nThere is also always room for better alignment, more flexibility, and more strength.\\nWith all of that in mind, we understand that there are poses many yogis find “impossible” to achieve.\\nThis is one of the reasons MyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! Because sometimes, intermediate and advanced yogis need that undivided attention, more feedback about alignment, and a bigger push to make it through those plateaus. So they \\ncan\\n land those “impossible” poses!\\nIf you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nIn the meantime, let’s talk about 5 poses that are entirely possible for you to achieve and how to do just that!\\n\\n\\n1. One-handed tree pose\\nOne of the most important things to remember when attempting difficult poses is to start with the simplest version of the pose and work your way up! \\nFor instance, you might start learning how to achieve one-handed tree pose by beginning with mastering a normal handstand or by practicing your handstand poses against a wall. Half handstand, bolstered handstand, and split handstands held against a wall for support are all great ways to build up to one-handed tree pose. \\nAlso, building strength in your arms, shoulders, back, and core are important for achieving this pose. \\nOne handed tree pose should only be attempted under the supervision of an experienced yoga instructor.\\nHard? Absolutely. Impossible? Definitely not!\\n\\n\\n\n2. Destroyer of the Universe Pose\\nThis pose may \\nlook\\n like the most difficult of all the poses we’re discussing today, but it’s honestly one of the “easier” ones for advanced yogis to master! \\nDestroyer of the Universe also packs many wellness benefits, such as curing indigestion, gas, constipation, relief of sinusitis and breathing difficulties, and, of course, building strength and flexibility in areas of the body that may not get a lot of attention.\\nPre-pose mastery of plank, side plank, and side plank with one leg lifted is important before attempting this pose. You will also need a lot of flexibility in your hips and hamstrings. However, the pose itself is quite simple.\\nFrom side plank, you will release your bottom leg down, bend your knee and bring that same leg up and behind your head. There are many variations of this pose leading up to the full version, though, so don’t be afraid to work on this pose in baby steps!\\n\\n\\n\n3. Scorpion Pose\\nScorpion pose, and its many even more difficult versions, is one of \\nthe\\n most advanced poses a yogi can practice. But it is entirely doable (yep, even the variation that’s done on your elbows!)\\nWhile Scorpion Pose is highly energizing physically and mentally, you should be able to fairly easily do poses such as handstand, headstand, camel pose, and dolphin pose before attempting this one. You’ll need to have excellent back flexibility, super strong arms, shoulders and core, and a high level of mental focus and balance.\\nThe actual steps to completing this pose are fairly simple if you’re already familiar with the prep poses we mentioned above!\\nWe definitely recommend some 1:1 attention from an experienced and expert yoga teacher when attempting this pose for the first time!\\n\\n\\n\n4. Yogic Sleep Pose\\nYogic Sleep Pose \\nis\\n an advanced pose for sure, but it begins with one of our favorite “easy” poses, Happy Baby! So you’ll want to be very comfortable with the Happy Baby pose before attempting this one.\\nWhile Yogic Sleep Pose reduces anxiety, promotes calmness, and can, in fact, prepare your body to sleep, don’t let this pose stress you out before you even get started! You’ll want to have very flexible hips to achieve this pose.\\nPoses like low lunge, high lunge, butterfly pose, pigeon pose, reclined pigeon pose, side angle stretch, and triangle pose are all great poses to practice before attempting Yogic Sleep pose.\\nWe’re pretty confident this one is safe to do on your own without supervision, but be sure to keep your neck stable and in a neutral position to avoid straining the neck muscles or causing injury.\\n\\n\\n\n5. Fallen Angel Pose\\nThis one even \\nlooks\\n like a doozy of a pose!\\nBefore we talk about this one, it’s important to note that, despite what it looks like, there should be virtually \\nno\\n weight placed on the neck or side of the neck. The weight bearing will be almost completely in your arms and shoulders.\\nYou should’ve mastered (and continued to practice) poses such as, crow pose, side crow pose, revolved side angle pose, revolved chair pose, and supine twist before attempting Fallen Angel. \\nHaving a very strong core is also important for this pose as well! \\nThis pose is very challenging, but definitely doable with the appropriate guidance and attention of an experienced yoga instructor.\\nAs a matter of fact, here at MyYogaTeacher, we believe that one of the main reasons yogis \\ndon’t\\n master – or even attempt – some of the most challenging yoga poses is because they are intimidated by and scared of them!\\nAnd rightfully so. No one wants to injure themselves attempting a hard yoga pose, right?\\nThis doesn’t mean the poses are impossible. It just means yogis need:\\nA plan for how to accomplish the desired poses \\nGuidance in proper strength training \\nPrep pose work \\nAlignment corrections so they can possess excellent alignment.\\nGood thing MyYogaTeacher has several solution options for that! If you haven’t checked out our affordable 1:1 membership plans,\\n you can sign up for your 2-week free trial and get a look at what’s available to you here!\\n\\nJoin the community of members who are really enjoying the perks of 1:1 instruction at MyYogaTeacher!\\n“Doing yoga 1:1 I get to practice with one teacher who knows what I need and can track progress.” - Erin, MYT member since October 2019\\n“Making a correction with 1:1 yoga is way better than any corrections that are ever made in a group class.” - Michael, MYT member since October 2019\\n“There is more focus on your alignment and you get more personal attention with 1:1. You make progress a lot quicker because the teacher is able to fully focus on you and change the techniques based on your body type and need.” - Kashmira, MYT member since November 2019\\n\\nLearn more and sign up here!\\n\\n\n"}},{"id":"ckfqzh3o0029201789roolpli","slug":"using-yoga-to-treat-my-back-pain","author":{"name":"Akshay Bhat","teacherMytSlug":"akshay-1","pictureUrl":"cnge5u8ffo4ya0e557o9123.jpg"},"title":"Using Yoga to Treat My Back Pain","createdAt":"2020-04-30T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"cnge5u8ffo4ya0e557o9123.jpg","content":{"text":"I started my Yoga journey in the year 2008 when I joined Omshantidhama Gurukula (Traditional school). There, I was introduced to yoga by Swami Ramdev. I started my practice with traditional hatha yoga, yoga philosophy, Pranayama, and cleansing techniques (Shatkarmas). \\n\\nI then learned Vedic chanting in the Gurukula alongside my  normal schooling. I started exploring the meanings of the mantras and learned Patanjali yoga sutras with Swami Brahmadev Ji.\\n\\nWhen I started teaching yoga, I began through one on one sessions. This spiked my interest in yoga even more. Soon I devoured several yogic texts and joined the \\nyoga instructor\\n cours at Svyasa University, learning about yoga as a spirituality and a science. I also  continued with my bachelor in yoga therapy (BSc). While working towards my BSc, I started exploring more aspects of therapy to treat my back pain.\\n\\nBecause of my own experience using yoga to treat my back pain, clients often come to me to treat theirs. In many cases, I’ve given patients relief after just 15 days of \\nyoga practice\\n. Along with yoga therapy, I also learned about the simple meditation technique developed by Dr. H R Nagendra, helpful in calming the mind. \\n\\nDuring the time of vacation and Arogyadhama student training in university, I took special interest and took a variety of yoga classes. I also did several personality development camps for kids and taught them yoga and its benefits. After the BSc, I did Yoga Alliance 200 hours course in the Aayana yoga academy where I learned the Vinyasa and \\nHatha yoga\\n teaching style. Currently, I am doing my Master's degree in Yoga (MSc.) and working with Ruh yoga as a lead Yoga teacher.\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[],"blogContent":{"id":"ckk605xyw0pay0925k147bj9f","slug":"find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How To Find The Best Yoga Teacher for You","createdAt":"2021-01-20T22:33:23.314902+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-05-17T11:45:42.42611+00:00","coverUrl":"shutterstock_1801286311.jpg","seoDescription":"It is important to choose a well qualified yoga instructor who can help practice yoga, improve your yoga poses, and should be someone you’re comfortable with.","content":{"text":"Most people don't know this, but finding the right yoga teacher for you is the most important part of building a regular yoga practice.\\n\\nAnd having a regular \\nyoga practice\\n is the \\nonly way to start reaping the benefits of yoga:\\nFeeling more \\npeaceful, calm, and relaxed\\nGaining \\nstrength and flexibility\\nBeing more \\nfocused and clear minded\\nHaving \\nmore energy\\n throughout the day\\nBalancing your hormones\\nFeeling \\nhappier and more satisfied\\n in life\\nLosing weight and maintaining a fit physique\\n\\nYou can read a lot more about the \\nbenefits of yoga here\\n (all scientifically verified in medical studies).\\n\\nWithout regular yoga practice, you may feel more calm, more flexible, and happier on the days you practice. But after a few days, you'll feel just like you did before. One or two classes is not enough to make any \\nlasting change\\n.\\n\\nWhen you \\nbuild a yoga habit\\n — that's when the magic happens! That's when you \\nstart to feel incredible as your default setting.\\n\\nAnd \\none of the fundamental keys to building a regular practice\\n — is finding the right teacher for you. \\nThe rest of this article will show you secret to finding the \\nbest yoga teacher\\n for you.\\n\\n\\n1. Do you like the teacher's personality?\\n\\nThis might seem obvious to you, but to most people it's just an 'icing on the cake' situation.\\n\\nThe reason this is #1 , is because even if you have the discipline to force yourself to show up. \\nYou can't rely on discipline in the long-run\\n. Discipline takes effort — \\nhabits are effortless\\n. So we need to create a Yoga Habit.\\n\\nIf you don't like the teacher, you'll always be forcing yourself to show up. When you do like the teacher, showing up becomes easy. In fact, you might show up even when you don't want to (but know you should), just because you don't want to disappoint your teacher.\\n\\nSo \\nthis is one of the easiest ways to help yourself show up\\n... finding a teacher that you like.\\n\\n\\n2. Can they teach to your level of experience and flexibility?\\n\\nThis is a tough one to find at your local studio. But it's \\ncritical to find a teacher and class at your level\\n. \\nOne that is challenging enough to push you forward in your practice. But easy enough that you can keep up.\\n\\nIf the class is too easy, you'll get bored and drop off\\n. You don't have to strain and push yourself to new athletic levels. But you do have to be challenged - even if it's just holding the asana for a few seconds longer.\\n\\nAnd of course, this has to be balanced. \\nYou won't stay long in a class that is too difficult for you either\\n.\\n\\nIf you feel like you can't do any of the asanas, and like the teacher is leaving you behind. You will become discouraged or feel a sense of failure. Then, the risk / reward mechanism in your mind will tell you to stop showing up.\\n\\nSo when the class is too easy, you get bored and stop showing up. When the class is too hard, you feel like you can't do it, and stop showing up.\\n\\nBut when you find that Goldilocks teacher...\\n When it's just right — then you feel motivated and excited to show up every day!\\n\\nFinding the right class for you can be impossible at your local studios. Its hard to find that perfect class when there are only 4 or 5 options. That's why myYogaTeacher offers \\n35+ daily classes live\\n, and has over \\n80 incredible teachers\\n. \\nYou can click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial\\n (no credit card required).\\n\\n\\n3. Are they a good teacher?\\n\\nNOTE:\\n While finding a 'good' teacher is fundamental, it has to be #3 on the list. Because if the teacher's personality and class difficulty are not a good match, you won't stick with it!\\n\\nThis is a difficult one to answer if you're not a teacher yourself.  But it's really important to get right — because \\nlearning from an unskilled (yet often well intentioned and kind) teacher can lead to injuries\\n. Sometimes serious injuries, if you're already struggling with issues like back-pain or knee-pain.\\n\\nBut don't worry, I'll give you some \\nkey things to look fo\\nr. So you can see if the teacher is skilled at teaching (not just flexible or good at practicing yoga).\\n\\nOne of the first things to look at is:\\n \\nHow many hours of certified training does the teacher have?\\n\\nIn the US, it's common for people to take a 200-hour certification course and then jump right to teaching at a studio. A 200-hour certification is amazing for going deeper in your practice. And you can be an excellent teacher with only 200-hours of certification. But it takes time and experience for these skills to develop.\\n\\nIf the teacher only has a 200-hr certification, look for at least 4 years of teaching experience.\\n\\nIn India, yoga is practiced, taught, and learned at a whole different level than in the US. It's more like the medical field.\\n\\nMost yoga teachers go to university and study yoga the way a physical therapist, nurse, or doctor does in the US. With myYogaTeacher you'll find\\n teachers who are literal Doctors of yoga, \\nyoga therapists\\n, and many with 900+ hours of certified training\\n.\\n\\nThis means that \\nyou can trust the teacher to give you a safe practice that will help your body\\n heal and become stronger and more flexible, without the risk of injury. \\nEspecially when you have back pain, knee pain, injuries, or are recovering from surgery.\\n\\nYoga is a natural way to heal many illnesses and injuries. But only when your teacher truly knows what they are doing.\\n\\nIf you're interested in trying classes with an expert Indian teacher, someone who has 900+ hrs of certified training, went to University for yoga, or even a Dr of yoga — \\nyou can click here for a free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n.\\n\\n\\nSummary\\n\\nIf you want to find a teacher that will naturally motivate you to be consistent with your yoga practice, heal any injuries or illnesses, and help you feel stronger, more flexible, and more at peace — \\nyou should look for:\\n\\nA yoga \\nteacher you like\\nA yoga teacher who's \\nclasses challenge you but aren't too difficult\\nA yoga teacher who has \\nat least 200-hours of certified training AND 4-years of experience\\nOr better yet\\n, an expert teacher from the birthplace of yoga, India, who studied yoga in University (similar to a Dr or Nurse in the US)\\n\\nIf you want to try yoga (for free) with an expert teacher like this,\\nyou can signup for a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher by clicking here\\n.","html":"<p>Most people don&#39;t know this, but finding the right yoga teacher for you is the most important part of building a regular yoga practice.</p><p></p><p>And having a regular <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">yoga practice</a> is the <strong>only way to start reaping the benefits of yoga:</strong></p><ul><li><div>Feeling more <strong>peaceful, calm, and relaxed</strong></div></li><li><div>Gaining <strong>strength and flexibility</strong></div></li><li><div>Being more <strong>focused and clear minded</strong></div></li><li><div>Having <strong>more energy</strong> throughout the day</div></li><li><div><strong>Balancing your hormones</strong></div></li><li><div>Feeling <strong>happier and more satisfied</strong> in life</div></li><li><div><strong>Losing weight and maintaining a fit physique</strong></div></li></ul><p></p><p>You can read a lot more about the <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\" href=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\">benefits of yoga here</a> (all scientifically verified in medical studies).</p><p></p><p>Without regular yoga practice, you may feel more calm, more flexible, and happier on the days you practice. But after a few days, you&#39;ll feel just like you did before. One or two classes is not enough to make any <strong>lasting change</strong>.</p><p></p><p>When you <strong>build a yoga habit</strong> — that&#39;s when the magic happens! That&#39;s when you <strong>start to feel incredible as your default setting.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>And <strong>one of the fundamental keys to building a regular practice</strong> — is finding the right teacher for you. </p><p>The rest of this article will show you secret to finding the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\">best yoga teacher</a> for you.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Do you like the teacher&#39;s personality?</h2><p></p><p>This might seem obvious to you, but to most people it&#39;s just an &#39;icing on the cake&#39; situation.</p><p></p><p>The reason this is #1 , is because even if you have the discipline to force yourself to show up. <strong>You can&#39;t rely on discipline in the long-run</strong>. Discipline takes effort — <strong>habits are effortless</strong>. So we need to create a Yoga Habit.</p><p></p><p>If you don&#39;t like the teacher, you&#39;ll always be forcing yourself to show up. When you do like the teacher, showing up becomes easy. In fact, you might show up even when you don&#39;t want to (but know you should), just because you don&#39;t want to disappoint your teacher.</p><p></p><p>So <strong>this is one of the easiest ways to help yourself show up</strong>... finding a teacher that you like.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Can they teach to your level of experience and flexibility?</h2><p></p><p>This is a tough one to find at your local studio. But it&#39;s <strong>critical to find a teacher and class at your level</strong>. </p><p>One that is challenging enough to push you forward in your practice. But easy enough that you can keep up.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the class is too easy, you&#39;ll get bored and drop off</strong>. You don&#39;t have to strain and push yourself to new athletic levels. But you do have to be challenged - even if it&#39;s just holding the asana for a few seconds longer.</p><p></p><p>And of course, this has to be balanced. <strong>You won&#39;t stay long in a class that is too difficult for you either</strong>.</p><p></p><p>If you feel like you can&#39;t do any of the asanas, and like the teacher is leaving you behind. You will become discouraged or feel a sense of failure. Then, the risk / reward mechanism in your mind will tell you to stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>So when the class is too easy, you get bored and stop showing up. When the class is too hard, you feel like you can&#39;t do it, and stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>But when you find that Goldilocks teacher...<strong> When it&#39;s just right — then you feel motivated and excited to show up every day!</strong></p><p></p><p>Finding the right class for you can be impossible at your local studios. Its hard to find that perfect class when there are only 4 or 5 options. That&#39;s why myYogaTeacher offers <strong>35+ daily classes live</strong>, and has over <strong>80 incredible teachers</strong>. <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>You can click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial</strong></a> (no credit card required).</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Are they a good teacher?</h2><p></p><p><strong>NOTE:</strong> While finding a &#39;good&#39; teacher is fundamental, it has to be #3 on the list. Because if the teacher&#39;s personality and class difficulty are not a good match, you won&#39;t stick with it!</p><p></p><p>This is a difficult one to answer if you&#39;re not a teacher yourself.  But it&#39;s really important to get right — because <strong>learning from an unskilled (yet often well intentioned and kind) teacher can lead to injuries</strong>. Sometimes serious injuries, if you&#39;re already struggling with issues like back-pain or knee-pain.</p><p></p><p>But don&#39;t worry, I&#39;ll give you some <strong>key things to look fo</strong>r. So you can see if the teacher is skilled at teaching (not just flexible or good at practicing yoga).</p><p></p><p><strong>One of the first things to look at is:</strong> <em>How many hours of certified training does the teacher have?</em></p><p></p><p>In the US, it&#39;s common for people to take a 200-hour certification course and then jump right to teaching at a studio. A 200-hour certification is amazing for going deeper in your practice. And you can be an excellent teacher with only 200-hours of certification. But it takes time and experience for these skills to develop.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the teacher only has a 200-hr certification, look for at least 4 years of teaching experience.</strong></p><p></p><p>In India, yoga is practiced, taught, and learned at a whole different level than in the US. It&#39;s more like the medical field.</p><p></p><p>Most yoga teachers go to university and study yoga the way a physical therapist, nurse, or doctor does in the US. With myYogaTeacher you&#39;ll find<strong> teachers who are literal Doctors of yoga, </strong><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\"><strong>yoga therapists</strong></a><strong>, and many with 900+ hours of certified training</strong>.</p><p></p><p>This means that <strong>you can trust the teacher to give you a safe practice that will help your body</strong> heal and become stronger and more flexible, without the risk of injury. <em>Especially when you have back pain, knee pain, injuries, or are recovering from surgery.</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Yoga is a natural way to heal many illnesses and injuries. But only when your teacher truly knows what they are doing.</strong></p><p></p><p>If you&#39;re interested in trying classes with an expert Indian teacher, someone who has 900+ hrs of certified training, went to University for yoga, or even a Dr of yoga — <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can click here for a free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher</strong></a>.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Summary</h2><p></p><p>If you want to find a teacher that will naturally motivate you to be consistent with your yoga practice, heal any injuries or illnesses, and help you feel stronger, more flexible, and more at peace — <strong>you should look for:</strong></p><p></p><ol><li><div>A yoga <strong>teacher you like</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who&#39;s <strong>classes challenge you but aren&#39;t too difficult</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who has <strong>at least 200-hours of certified training AND 4-years of experience</strong></div><div><ol><li><div><strong>Or better yet</strong>, an expert teacher from the birthplace of yoga, India, who studied yoga in University (similar to a Dr or Nurse in the US)</div></li></ol></div></li></ol><p></p><p>If you want to try yoga (for free) with an expert teacher like this,<a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can signup for a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher by clicking here</strong></a>.</p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>Most people don&#39;t know this, but finding the right yoga teacher for you is the most important part of building a regular yoga practice.</p><p></p><p>And having a regular <a\n            class=\"inline-cta\"\n            id=e80f2ecd-0883-41a6-8d29-2cef68dbc089\n            href=\"/signup?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=ckk605xyw0pay0925k147bj9f&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=How To Find The Best Yoga Teacher for You&entity_slug=find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you&page_or_popup=/articles/find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n            onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"e80f2ecd-0883-41a6-8d29-2cef68dbc089\")\n            title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n            data-title=\"How To Find The Best Yoga Teacher for You\"\n            data-slug=\"find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you\"\n            <u>yoga practice</a></u>        \n            </a> is the <strong>only way to start reaping the benefits of yoga:</strong></p><ul><li><div>Feeling more <strong>peaceful, calm, and relaxed</strong></div></li><li><div>Gaining <strong>strength and flexibility</strong></div></li><li><div>Being more <strong>focused and clear minded</strong></div></li><li><div>Having <strong>more energy</strong> throughout the day</div></li><li><div><strong>Balancing your hormones</strong></div></li><li><div>Feeling <strong>happier and more satisfied</strong> in life</div></li><li><div><strong>Losing weight and maintaining a fit physique</strong></div></li></ul><p></p><p>You can read a lot more about the <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\" href=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\">benefits of yoga here</a> (all scientifically verified in medical studies).</p><p></p><p>Without regular yoga practice, you may feel more calm, more flexible, and happier on the days you practice. But after a few days, you&#39;ll feel just like you did before. One or two classes is not enough to make any <strong>lasting change</strong>.</p><p></p><p>When you <strong>build a yoga habit</strong> — that&#39;s when the magic happens! That&#39;s when you <strong>start to feel incredible as your default setting.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>And <strong>one of the fundamental keys to building a regular practice</strong> — is finding the right teacher for you. </p><p>The rest of this article will show you secret to finding the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\">best yoga teacher</a> for you.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Do you like the teacher&#39;s personality?</h2><p></p><p>This might seem obvious to you, but to most people it&#39;s just an &#39;icing on the cake&#39; situation.</p><p></p><p>The reason this is #1 , is because even if you have the discipline to force yourself to show up. <strong>You can&#39;t rely on discipline in the long-run</strong>. Discipline takes effort — <strong>habits are effortless</strong>. So we need to create a Yoga Habit.</p><p></p><p>If you don&#39;t like the teacher, you&#39;ll always be forcing yourself to show up. When you do like the teacher, showing up becomes easy. In fact, you might show up even when you don&#39;t want to (but know you should), just because you don&#39;t want to disappoint your teacher.</p><p></p><p>So <strong>this is one of the easiest ways to help yourself show up</strong>... finding a teacher that you like.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Can they teach to your level of experience and flexibility?</h2><p></p><p>This is a tough one to find at your local studio. But it&#39;s <strong>critical to find a teacher and class at your level</strong>. </p><p>One that is challenging enough to push you forward in your practice. But easy enough that you can keep up.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the class is too easy, you&#39;ll get bored and drop off</strong>. You don&#39;t have to strain and push yourself to new athletic levels. But you do have to be challenged - even if it&#39;s just holding the asana for a few seconds longer.</p><p></p><p>And of course, this has to be balanced. <strong>You won&#39;t stay long in a class that is too difficult for you either</strong>.</p><p></p><p>If you feel like you can&#39;t do any of the asanas, and like the teacher is leaving you behind. You will become discouraged or feel a sense of failure. Then, the risk / reward mechanism in your mind will tell you to stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>So when the class is too easy, you get bored and stop showing up. When the class is too hard, you feel like you can&#39;t do it, and stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>But when you find that Goldilocks teacher...<strong> When it&#39;s just right — then you feel motivated and excited to show up every day!</strong></p><p></p><p>Finding the right class for you can be impossible at your local studios. Its hard to find that perfect class when there are only 4 or 5 options. That&#39;s why myYogaTeacher offers <strong>35+ daily classes live</strong>, and has over <strong>80 incredible teachers</strong>. <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>You can click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial</strong></a> (no credit card required).</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Are they a good teacher?</h2><p></p><p><strong>NOTE:</strong> While finding a &#39;good&#39; teacher is fundamental, it has to be #3 on the list. Because if the teacher&#39;s personality and class difficulty are not a good match, you won&#39;t stick with it!</p><p></p><p>This is a difficult one to answer if you&#39;re not a teacher yourself.  But it&#39;s really important to get right — because <strong>learning from an unskilled (yet often well intentioned and kind) teacher can lead to injuries</strong>. Sometimes serious injuries, if you&#39;re already struggling with issues like back-pain or knee-pain.</p><p></p><p>But don&#39;t worry, I&#39;ll give you some <strong>key things to look fo</strong>r. So you can see if the teacher is skilled at teaching (not just flexible or good at practicing yoga).</p><p></p><p><strong>One of the first things to look at is:</strong> <em>How many hours of certified training does the teacher have?</em></p><p></p><p>In the US, it&#39;s common for people to take a 200-hour certification course and then jump right to teaching at a studio. A 200-hour certification is amazing for going deeper in your practice. And you can be an excellent teacher with only 200-hours of certification. But it takes time and experience for these skills to develop.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the teacher only has a 200-hr certification, look for at least 4 years of teaching experience.</strong></p><p></p><p>In India, yoga is practiced, taught, and learned at a whole different level than in the US. It&#39;s more like the medical field.</p><p></p><p>Most yoga teachers go to university and study yoga the way a physical therapist, nurse, or doctor does in the US. With myYogaTeacher you&#39;ll find<strong> teachers who are literal Doctors of yoga, </strong><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\"><strong>yoga therapists</strong></a><strong>, and many with 900+ hours of certified training</strong>.</p><p></p><p>This means that <strong>you can trust the teacher to give you a safe practice that will help your body</strong> heal and become stronger and more flexible, without the risk of injury. <em>Especially when you have back pain, knee pain, injuries, or are recovering from surgery.</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Yoga is a natural way to heal many illnesses and injuries. But only when your teacher truly knows what they are doing.</strong></p><p></p><p>If you&#39;re interested in trying classes with an expert Indian teacher, someone who has 900+ hrs of certified training, went to University for yoga, or even a Dr of yoga — <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can click here for a free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher</strong></a>.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Summary</h2><p></p><p>If you want to find a teacher that will naturally motivate you to be consistent with your yoga practice, heal any injuries or illnesses, and help you feel stronger, more flexible, and more at peace — <strong>you should look for:</strong></p><p></p><ol><li><div>A yoga <strong>teacher you like</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who&#39;s <strong>classes challenge you but aren&#39;t too difficult</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who has <strong>at least 200-hours of certified training AND 4-years of experience</strong></div><div><ol><li><div><strong>Or better yet</strong>, an expert teacher from the birthplace of yoga, India, who studied yoga in University (similar to a Dr or Nurse in the US)</div></li></ol></div></li></ol><p></p><p>If you want to try yoga (for free) with an expert teacher like this,<a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can signup for a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher by clicking here</strong></a>.</p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"signup","redirectURL":"#","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz37hsu0cj0a76mgb4594m","name":"[CTA-FREECLASS]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz4d5stsye0b75dtlx1w0n","name":"[CTA-TRENDS]","description":{"html":"<p>Get ahead of the next trend and practice with authentic Indian yoga teachers! Sign up today and <strong>get 2 free private yoga sessions PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>103,478 Happy Students &amp; 12,086 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz7nzktu400b752fym6wpw","name":"[CTA-HATHA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private hatha yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(including tons of daily Hatha yoga classes). No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Hatha Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>with Authentic Indian Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cky90p88g3zgc0d23yz6taont","name":"[CTA-NASAL]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>to relieve post nasal drip and clear out your sinus. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic Indian yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Post Nasal Drip &amp; Clear Your Sinus Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyirvl8g25ce0c70cldmca2g","name":"[CTA-TRATAKA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>with experienced Trataka teachers. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Candle Gazing Meditation) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely &amp; Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation Today!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitxgyg2pot0b79lu1fcpp1","name":"[CTA-BREATH]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) and <strong>2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>, like ‘Stretch and Breathe’, ‘Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation’, and many others. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong> Learn Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Pranayama!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckykb6i2o1o7f0b368s1m7qow","name":"[CTA-LYMPHATIC]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong> for lymphatic drainage &amp; immunity enhancement. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group yoga classes</strong> (including daily yin-yoga) when you sign up today! No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions –  </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage &amp; Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"ckk605xyw0pay0925k147bj9f","slug":"find-best-yoga-teacher-for-you","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How To Find The Best Yoga Teacher for You","createdAt":"2021-01-20T22:33:23.314902+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-05-17T11:45:42.42611+00:00","coverUrl":"shutterstock_1801286311.jpg","seoDescription":"It is important to choose a well qualified yoga instructor who can help practice yoga, improve your yoga poses, and should be someone you’re comfortable with.","content":{"text":"Most people don't know this, but finding the right yoga teacher for you is the most important part of building a regular yoga practice.\\n\\nAnd having a regular \\nyoga practice\\n is the \\nonly way to start reaping the benefits of yoga:\\nFeeling more \\npeaceful, calm, and relaxed\\nGaining \\nstrength and flexibility\\nBeing more \\nfocused and clear minded\\nHaving \\nmore energy\\n throughout the day\\nBalancing your hormones\\nFeeling \\nhappier and more satisfied\\n in life\\nLosing weight and maintaining a fit physique\\n\\nYou can read a lot more about the \\nbenefits of yoga here\\n (all scientifically verified in medical studies).\\n\\nWithout regular yoga practice, you may feel more calm, more flexible, and happier on the days you practice. But after a few days, you'll feel just like you did before. One or two classes is not enough to make any \\nlasting change\\n.\\n\\nWhen you \\nbuild a yoga habit\\n — that's when the magic happens! That's when you \\nstart to feel incredible as your default setting.\\n\\nAnd \\none of the fundamental keys to building a regular practice\\n — is finding the right teacher for you. \\nThe rest of this article will show you secret to finding the \\nbest yoga teacher\\n for you.\\n\\n\\n1. Do you like the teacher's personality?\\n\\nThis might seem obvious to you, but to most people it's just an 'icing on the cake' situation.\\n\\nThe reason this is #1 , is because even if you have the discipline to force yourself to show up. \\nYou can't rely on discipline in the long-run\\n. Discipline takes effort — \\nhabits are effortless\\n. So we need to create a Yoga Habit.\\n\\nIf you don't like the teacher, you'll always be forcing yourself to show up. When you do like the teacher, showing up becomes easy. In fact, you might show up even when you don't want to (but know you should), just because you don't want to disappoint your teacher.\\n\\nSo \\nthis is one of the easiest ways to help yourself show up\\n... finding a teacher that you like.\\n\\n\\n2. Can they teach to your level of experience and flexibility?\\n\\nThis is a tough one to find at your local studio. But it's \\ncritical to find a teacher and class at your level\\n. \\nOne that is challenging enough to push you forward in your practice. But easy enough that you can keep up.\\n\\nIf the class is too easy, you'll get bored and drop off\\n. You don't have to strain and push yourself to new athletic levels. But you do have to be challenged - even if it's just holding the asana for a few seconds longer.\\n\\nAnd of course, this has to be balanced. \\nYou won't stay long in a class that is too difficult for you either\\n.\\n\\nIf you feel like you can't do any of the asanas, and like the teacher is leaving you behind. You will become discouraged or feel a sense of failure. Then, the risk / reward mechanism in your mind will tell you to stop showing up.\\n\\nSo when the class is too easy, you get bored and stop showing up. When the class is too hard, you feel like you can't do it, and stop showing up.\\n\\nBut when you find that Goldilocks teacher...\\n When it's just right — then you feel motivated and excited to show up every day!\\n\\nFinding the right class for you can be impossible at your local studios. Its hard to find that perfect class when there are only 4 or 5 options. That's why myYogaTeacher offers \\n35+ daily classes live\\n, and has over \\n80 incredible teachers\\n. \\nYou can click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial\\n (no credit card required).\\n\\n\\n3. Are they a good teacher?\\n\\nNOTE:\\n While finding a 'good' teacher is fundamental, it has to be #3 on the list. Because if the teacher's personality and class difficulty are not a good match, you won't stick with it!\\n\\nThis is a difficult one to answer if you're not a teacher yourself.  But it's really important to get right — because \\nlearning from an unskilled (yet often well intentioned and kind) teacher can lead to injuries\\n. Sometimes serious injuries, if you're already struggling with issues like back-pain or knee-pain.\\n\\nBut don't worry, I'll give you some \\nkey things to look fo\\nr. So you can see if the teacher is skilled at teaching (not just flexible or good at practicing yoga).\\n\\nOne of the first things to look at is:\\n \\nHow many hours of certified training does the teacher have?\\n\\nIn the US, it's common for people to take a 200-hour certification course and then jump right to teaching at a studio. A 200-hour certification is amazing for going deeper in your practice. And you can be an excellent teacher with only 200-hours of certification. But it takes time and experience for these skills to develop.\\n\\nIf the teacher only has a 200-hr certification, look for at least 4 years of teaching experience.\\n\\nIn India, yoga is practiced, taught, and learned at a whole different level than in the US. It's more like the medical field.\\n\\nMost yoga teachers go to university and study yoga the way a physical therapist, nurse, or doctor does in the US. With myYogaTeacher you'll find\\n teachers who are literal Doctors of yoga, \\nyoga therapists\\n, and many with 900+ hours of certified training\\n.\\n\\nThis means that \\nyou can trust the teacher to give you a safe practice that will help your body\\n heal and become stronger and more flexible, without the risk of injury. \\nEspecially when you have back pain, knee pain, injuries, or are recovering from surgery.\\n\\nYoga is a natural way to heal many illnesses and injuries. But only when your teacher truly knows what they are doing.\\n\\nIf you're interested in trying classes with an expert Indian teacher, someone who has 900+ hrs of certified training, went to University for yoga, or even a Dr of yoga — \\nyou can click here for a free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n.\\n\\n\\nSummary\\n\\nIf you want to find a teacher that will naturally motivate you to be consistent with your yoga practice, heal any injuries or illnesses, and help you feel stronger, more flexible, and more at peace — \\nyou should look for:\\n\\nA yoga \\nteacher you like\\nA yoga teacher who's \\nclasses challenge you but aren't too difficult\\nA yoga teacher who has \\nat least 200-hours of certified training AND 4-years of experience\\nOr better yet\\n, an expert teacher from the birthplace of yoga, India, who studied yoga in University (similar to a Dr or Nurse in the US)\\n\\nIf you want to try yoga (for free) with an expert teacher like this,\\nyou can signup for a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher by clicking here\\n.","html":"<p>Most people don&#39;t know this, but finding the right yoga teacher for you is the most important part of building a regular yoga practice.</p><p></p><p>And having a regular <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">yoga practice</a> is the <strong>only way to start reaping the benefits of yoga:</strong></p><ul><li><div>Feeling more <strong>peaceful, calm, and relaxed</strong></div></li><li><div>Gaining <strong>strength and flexibility</strong></div></li><li><div>Being more <strong>focused and clear minded</strong></div></li><li><div>Having <strong>more energy</strong> throughout the day</div></li><li><div><strong>Balancing your hormones</strong></div></li><li><div>Feeling <strong>happier and more satisfied</strong> in life</div></li><li><div><strong>Losing weight and maintaining a fit physique</strong></div></li></ul><p></p><p>You can read a lot more about the <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\" href=\"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-on-yoga_n_4109595\">benefits of yoga here</a> (all scientifically verified in medical studies).</p><p></p><p>Without regular yoga practice, you may feel more calm, more flexible, and happier on the days you practice. But after a few days, you&#39;ll feel just like you did before. One or two classes is not enough to make any <strong>lasting change</strong>.</p><p></p><p>When you <strong>build a yoga habit</strong> — that&#39;s when the magic happens! That&#39;s when you <strong>start to feel incredible as your default setting.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>And <strong>one of the fundamental keys to building a regular practice</strong> — is finding the right teacher for you. </p><p>The rest of this article will show you secret to finding the <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signUp\">best yoga teacher</a> for you.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Do you like the teacher&#39;s personality?</h2><p></p><p>This might seem obvious to you, but to most people it&#39;s just an &#39;icing on the cake&#39; situation.</p><p></p><p>The reason this is #1 , is because even if you have the discipline to force yourself to show up. <strong>You can&#39;t rely on discipline in the long-run</strong>. Discipline takes effort — <strong>habits are effortless</strong>. So we need to create a Yoga Habit.</p><p></p><p>If you don&#39;t like the teacher, you&#39;ll always be forcing yourself to show up. When you do like the teacher, showing up becomes easy. In fact, you might show up even when you don&#39;t want to (but know you should), just because you don&#39;t want to disappoint your teacher.</p><p></p><p>So <strong>this is one of the easiest ways to help yourself show up</strong>... finding a teacher that you like.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Can they teach to your level of experience and flexibility?</h2><p></p><p>This is a tough one to find at your local studio. But it&#39;s <strong>critical to find a teacher and class at your level</strong>. </p><p>One that is challenging enough to push you forward in your practice. But easy enough that you can keep up.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the class is too easy, you&#39;ll get bored and drop off</strong>. You don&#39;t have to strain and push yourself to new athletic levels. But you do have to be challenged - even if it&#39;s just holding the asana for a few seconds longer.</p><p></p><p>And of course, this has to be balanced. <strong>You won&#39;t stay long in a class that is too difficult for you either</strong>.</p><p></p><p>If you feel like you can&#39;t do any of the asanas, and like the teacher is leaving you behind. You will become discouraged or feel a sense of failure. Then, the risk / reward mechanism in your mind will tell you to stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>So when the class is too easy, you get bored and stop showing up. When the class is too hard, you feel like you can&#39;t do it, and stop showing up.</p><p></p><p>But when you find that Goldilocks teacher...<strong> When it&#39;s just right — then you feel motivated and excited to show up every day!</strong></p><p></p><p>Finding the right class for you can be impossible at your local studios. Its hard to find that perfect class when there are only 4 or 5 options. That&#39;s why myYogaTeacher offers <strong>35+ daily classes live</strong>, and has over <strong>80 incredible teachers</strong>. <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>You can click here to sign up for a free 14-day trial</strong></a> (no credit card required).</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Are they a good teacher?</h2><p></p><p><strong>NOTE:</strong> While finding a &#39;good&#39; teacher is fundamental, it has to be #3 on the list. Because if the teacher&#39;s personality and class difficulty are not a good match, you won&#39;t stick with it!</p><p></p><p>This is a difficult one to answer if you&#39;re not a teacher yourself.  But it&#39;s really important to get right — because <strong>learning from an unskilled (yet often well intentioned and kind) teacher can lead to injuries</strong>. Sometimes serious injuries, if you&#39;re already struggling with issues like back-pain or knee-pain.</p><p></p><p>But don&#39;t worry, I&#39;ll give you some <strong>key things to look fo</strong>r. So you can see if the teacher is skilled at teaching (not just flexible or good at practicing yoga).</p><p></p><p><strong>One of the first things to look at is:</strong> <em>How many hours of certified training does the teacher have?</em></p><p></p><p>In the US, it&#39;s common for people to take a 200-hour certification course and then jump right to teaching at a studio. A 200-hour certification is amazing for going deeper in your practice. And you can be an excellent teacher with only 200-hours of certification. But it takes time and experience for these skills to develop.</p><p></p><p><strong>If the teacher only has a 200-hr certification, look for at least 4 years of teaching experience.</strong></p><p></p><p>In India, yoga is practiced, taught, and learned at a whole different level than in the US. It&#39;s more like the medical field.</p><p></p><p>Most yoga teachers go to university and study yoga the way a physical therapist, nurse, or doctor does in the US. With myYogaTeacher you&#39;ll find<strong> teachers who are literal Doctors of yoga, </strong><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/\"><strong>yoga therapists</strong></a><strong>, and many with 900+ hours of certified training</strong>.</p><p></p><p>This means that <strong>you can trust the teacher to give you a safe practice that will help your body</strong> heal and become stronger and more flexible, without the risk of injury. <em>Especially when you have back pain, knee pain, injuries, or are recovering from surgery.</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Yoga is a natural way to heal many illnesses and injuries. But only when your teacher truly knows what they are doing.</strong></p><p></p><p>If you&#39;re interested in trying classes with an expert Indian teacher, someone who has 900+ hrs of certified training, went to University for yoga, or even a Dr of yoga — <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can click here for a free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher</strong></a>.</p><p></p><p></p><h2>Summary</h2><p></p><p>If you want to find a teacher that will naturally motivate you to be consistent with your yoga practice, heal any injuries or illnesses, and help you feel stronger, more flexible, and more at peace — <strong>you should look for:</strong></p><p></p><ol><li><div>A yoga <strong>teacher you like</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who&#39;s <strong>classes challenge you but aren&#39;t too difficult</strong></div></li><li><div>A yoga teacher who has <strong>at least 200-hours of certified training AND 4-years of experience</strong></div><div><ol><li><div><strong>Or better yet</strong>, an expert teacher from the birthplace of yoga, India, who studied yoga in University (similar to a Dr or Nurse in the US)</div></li></ol></div></li></ol><p></p><p>If you want to try yoga (for free) with an expert teacher like this,<a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html?utm_source=MYT&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=SEO&utm_content=find-right-teacher\"><strong>you can signup for a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher by clicking here</strong></a>.</p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":null}