Yoga Camp Of Swami Ramdev In Chicago Article

It is a shame that proper behavior, respect, and ethics do not

make great headlines in the newspapers. Just watch the news, and

read the newspaper for a week, to confirm what makes "good

copy." It will not take long for you to find a dozen, or dozens,

of scandals.


We all make mistakes, and none of us wants to have them in

print, but some are preventable. Here are some guidelines for

Yoga teachers to consider when teaching their students. As a

leader and role model, your ethical behavior will be duplicated

by your Yoga students.


There is no need for an air of superiority within the Yoga

class. Everyone is good at something, so why waste time and

energy trying to impress your students, or the public, about

your ability as a Yoga instructor. If students are attending

your Yoga classes, they are already impressed, so there is no

need to turn your Yoga studio into a "circus act."



If someone does not practice Yoga, or is not a vegetarian,

please do not bolster your ego over the issue. Do not engage in

hostile debates over these issues. There is a time, place, and

method for convincing people about health issues, but hostility

will not convince anyone.



Bias and discrimination are hard habits to break. Sometimes,

these ideas exist within families for generations. Yoga teachers

should accept students, regardless of race, religion, gender,

ethnic origin, age, social status, or any other reason we can

find to be unjustifiably bias.



In the case of age - children who are too young may have a

separate Yoga class, but this depends on the patience of the

Yoga teacher and the group. Some "Mommy and me" Yoga classes run

along smoothly, but some adult Yoga students do not want to be

in a Yoga class with children.



I teach children four years of age and up, but it is

specifically within a "Kids Yoga" class. This is much different

from a typical adult Yoga class, and the circus act I mentioned

earlier might be fine. Do not be surprised to see children

perform difficult asanas, but do not expose them to hazards.



In the course of a week, I teach many Chair Yoga classes, and

these are age specific. However, when seniors show up to a Yoga

class, at a Yoga studio, or ashram, they should be welcomed and

modifications should be taught - if they are needed.



Getting back to discrimination in general: The largest problem

with bias is our history of war crimes, holocaust, atrocities,

and slavery. Discrimination cannot go unchecked, and it has no

place anywhere, especially in a Yoga studio or ashram. If you

teach Yoga to a specific religious sect, that is fine, but do

not speak harshly of those who are not present.


It comes down to the golden rule, which is very universal to

most of the world's religions, and I will conclude this part

with a quote. Most of you will recognize a much similar quote

within your own religion. It does shed light on the wisdom of

our ancestors.



"This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would

not have them do unto you." Mahabharata 5,1517.



? Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications