| Hatha Yoga teachers are asked variations of this | | | | ability to safely teach Yoga classes. Experienced |
| question daily. At times, it seems as if there is a | | | | Yoga teachers are often good examples of a |
| public perception that Hatha Yoga is only for the | | | | healthy lifestyle. |
| young and athletic. Many prospective students, | | | | Hatha Yoga is a way of life that can be designed |
| with years of training, wonder if they are worthy | | | | to meet the needs of any student, of any age, in |
| enough to undergo a Yoga teacher training | | | | any state of physical condition. Will a youthful |
| course. The most common reason, for feeling | | | | athletic Yoga teacher have solid advice for |
| unworthy of going through Yoga certification, is | | | | students with heart diseases, cancer, neurological |
| aging. | | | | disorders, or musculoskeletal diseases? It is |
| Somehow the message of the Yogic path has | | | | possible, but it requires more continuing education |
| become distorted, as we praise youth and | | | | than life experience. |
| physical prowess. There is nothing wrong with | | | | The point being: Life experience has much more |
| praising the young and athletic, but to obsess | | | | value than public perception indicates. We cannot |
| over aging is to miss the greatest gift of aging. | | | | physically see life experience, but we can see |
| To teach the next generation, to help the | | | | youthful appearance. Determining the worth of a |
| younger students avoid making mistakes, and to | | | | Yoga teacher, based upon youthful appearance, is |
| "pass the torch," are the rewards of age. | | | | a mistake. At the same time, students who begin |
| A competent teacher is one who has traveled | | | | their practice later in life, should be conscious that |
| the Yogic path before, and passes knowledge to | | | | realistically knowing one's limitations and strengths |
| the next generation of practitioners. A seasoned | | | | is the foundation of a safe Yoga practice. |
| practitioner, who becomes a Yoga teacher, can | | | | In short, students of any age can practice Yoga |
| contribute to the collective needs of the class. | | | | or learn to become teachers. A Hatha yoga |
| Acquiring Yogic knowledge requires study, | | | | teacher does not have to possess the gift of |
| practice, and time. It is a fact that when time | | | | sight, if he or she has a knowledgeable assistant |
| passes, we age. | | | | making physical adjustments during class. If life's |
| No one is born with the knowledge required to | | | | circumstances make it so that we find ourselves |
| teach Yoga sessions. This cultural obsession, with | | | | in a wheelchair, should we give up? The answer |
| youthful appearance, undermines the potential of | | | | has more to do with character and perseverance |
| many experienced practitioners, who have the | | | | than potential. |