THE YOGA TEACHING WORKSHOP 11th-12th MARCH 2006

On the weekend of 11th – 12th March, 5 yoga teaching students, had the pleasure of Sarah Mathew’s expertise on the subject of the chakras - specifically their application to yoga and how we could integrate them into our practice to improve health and well being.

I have always been interested in the chakra system and its relationship with the physical body but have never had the opportunity in classes to cover this aspect in any notable depth. So this weekend, where we were invited to explore the link between the chakras and yoga with focus on asana, pranayama, meditation, mudra’s and mantras was both an excellent and rare opportunity to really deepen my understanding on one of the less practiced aspects of yoga.

The great thing about workshops is that they enable you to explore aspects of yoga that are hard to cover in your average class. For instance, the workshop began on Saturday morning with a yoga practice focusing on the manipura chakra (the root chakra). Sarah had devised a practice which centered around opening and enlivening this chakra. This was followed by a theoretical discussion in which we were taken through each one of the chakras in turn. On the Sunday, we took a detailed look at the relevance of the sun salutation in relationship to the chakra centers and explored at length mudras (essentially yoga for the hands) as well as chanting all the chakras from the base to the crown. Experiences such as these have really inspired me to further research these elements in my own practice so that eventually I too could cover them in my yoga classes.

The workshop culminated with an observed teaching practice. Each student was given a chakra as a theme and had to teach 2 postures in detail expanding on the aspects which make a connection between the physical body and the chakra concerned. Sarah observed us on such criteria as knowledge of safe and clear instruction, understanding the benefits/ contraindications, modifications and adjustment.
 
I found this observed teaching practice at once the most challenging part of the workshop and the most insightful. It is also the one area that Kevala’s yoga teaching diploma (being a distance learning course) can not cover easily in detail. It really served to remind me of the different elements involved in teaching yoga successfully – the importance of clear instruction, the right level of demonstration and keeping the class interested. Indeed, it has encouraged me to use my friends as yoga guinea pigs more!

The pace and structure was just right with a good balance of practical and theoretical work. Moreover, since we were a small group we had ample opportunity to ask questions, get to know each other as a group as well as receive one on one attention. At all times Sarah was positive and encouraging and able to answer all our questions – chakra related or otherwise.

Sarah somehow managed to keep to the timings and rather impressively managed to cover everything in adequate detail and not over run. 10am to 4pm is long enough to get through a decent amount of work but short enough not to feel wiped out. (And gives you enough free time to enjoy what Torquay and the surrounds has to offer.)

The venue really is perfect – comfortable tutorial rooms and personable chill out areas with views over the perfectly landscaped garden (with spa!!), a meditation room, mini library and coffee and tea facilities. As well as the resident cat who liked nothing more than sharing in our yoga practice!

The quality of the accompanying handout was also excellent and clearly shows the thought and time put into the planning of the workshop. It is always nice to have all the themes and learning’s of the workshop together with your own notes as something tangible to refer back to throughout your studies.

Definitely, my advice would be to go along to as many tutorials as possible as they really do add to the whole learning experience. Having spent time at Kevala, my aspirations of becoming a yoga teacher are all the more cemented and my inspiration and motivation firmly renewed!

BY FIONA KHONDOKER