When you decide to start going through your personal journey of becoming a yoga teacher remember that yoga is both an art and science. In order to be good at it you need to be confident and have skill. Advanced understanding of the poses, and how they benefit the body. Yoga teacher training and working with the style of Anusara yoga focuses on learning to instruct students how to reach the poses while including the open-heart concept and principles of alignment.

Training

Yoga teacher training for Anusara yoga is highly esteemed where teachers go through a rigorous training for several years in curriculum the studies Yoga history, eastern philosophy, anatomy, bio-mechanics, posture alignment, and therapeutics. All those going through yoga certification are trained in areas such as tantric philosophy and heart-oriented themes. Other areas of importance that are stressed during training include the principles of meditation, breath, observation, postural sequencing, use of voice, verbal and physical adjustments, and organization of course curriculum.

Curriculum

The overall curriculum for yoga teacher training in Anusara yoga includes a broad range of classes that will accommodate students in all ability levels and levels of yoga experience. Beginners, seniors, children, expectant mothers, students with limitations, and even the advanced yoga teachers will all find classes that will appropriately suit their level.

Classifications

With any sort of yoga teacher training there are different classifications for yoga teaching. There is the certified Anusara Yoga teacher and Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher.

Anusara Yoga Teacher certification will give the teacher the ability to serve each of their students and help them find their innate goodness, supreme nature, and worthiness. This type of teacher is dedicated to helping each student take the time to build their self-esteem. They are taught how to evoke light-heartedness, celebration and happy creativity in their student’s practice of yoga.

Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teachers earn a license to promote their teaching by committing to a routine study and practice of Anusara yoga and by following Anusara yoga guidelines. This level of teaching requires at least two years of practice, with 100 hours of Immersion studies and 50 hours of yoga teacher training.

Guidelines

There are some basic guidelines that need to be followed to keep the harmony of the Anusara yoga belief alive and healthy. All teachers are required to follow Ethical guidelines in order to maintain and protect their teaching license.  Yoga teachers are setting the example for their students. They have a responsibility to behave in moral and ethical ways and to maintain a respectable personal integrity.

Yamas (Behavior restraints) are ethical guidelines for the yogi to follow relating to their relationship with others in the outer environment, society or nature. This is applied to their words, actions and thoughts.

• Ahimsa (Non-harming) is to always bring loving kindness to those around you, never block the flow of nature, show mercy, compassion, and gentleness.
• Satya (Truthfulness) is being genuine and always your best self, having integrity, being honorable, honest, and no exaggeration.
• Asteya (Non-Stealing) never take what is not yours-money, credit or goods. Never take from others their own experiences and freedoms. Never wish for another’s qualities, possessions or status.
• Brahmacharya (Walking or having ethical conduct like God) you should always relate to others with unconditional love and integrity. Never show selfishness or manipulate others. Avoid lustful behavior.
• Aparigraha (Non-clinging) no attachment to possessions, not accumulating more than what is deemed necessary.

Niyamas (Internal Restraints) are ethical guidelines regarding the daily activities of the yogi.  The observances of your own actions, physical appearance, thoughts and words.

• Shauca (Purity) your cleanliness, clarity and balance. The internal and external purification.
• Santosa (Contentment) Peace, tranquility and the acceptance of the ways things are.
• Tapas (Heat) this is the burning desire for a reunion with God which is expressed through purification, willpower, self-discipline, and patience.
• Svadhyaya (Study of self) Mindfulness, self-inquiry, chanting and recitation of scriptures. Always searching for the unknown (Divinity) in the known (Physical world).
• Ishvara Pranidhana (Devotional offering to the Lord) Surrender yourself to God, open-heartedness, willingness to serve the Lord.

Anusara Yoga’s ethical guidelines are there to protect you. Always honor and love yourself as being divine and full of goodness. You must stay centered with your divine self to connect more powerfully with your students. Keep Shraddha which is trust and faith in the power and order of the Supreme. Be open to the power of Grace.

Welcome all those that enter your teaching sessions regardless of race, gender, religion, cultural background or sexual preference. Yoga teacher training will teach you to be a compassionate and willing teacher that serves their students selflessly and unconditionally. For each step that a student takes toward you, you should take two steps towards them. Always be generous with your energy and time and inspire your students to reach their optimum alignment, attitude and action.