One of the hardest things to learn as a new yoga student is to let go of preconceived notions. Things are not always as black-and-white as they seem. But guess what? As an international yoga educator, I have learned that we teachers often struggle with the same thing. We get into a system and then mistakenly believe that it's the only way to do things.
I have been all over the world teaching new yoga students and experienced teachers looking to be better at what they do. And through it all, I've been exposed to one constant: there is no need nor benefit to utilizing just one yoga training technique. There are lots of different techniques, some of which are better suited to certain forms of yoga.
The Universe Is Vast, My Friends
Let me ask you this: what is your place in the universe? It turns out that the universe is vast. It is so vast that none of us can truly comprehend it fully. That's why there are so many different forms of yoga. My niche is yoga nidra. I am passionate about it. Maybe you are passionate about another form, like:
Vinyasa flow
Hatha yoga
Ashtanga yoga
Power yoga
Yin yoga
Restorative yoga
I could go on, but you get the point. There are so many forms of yoga because there are so many ways to accomplish its goals. Each one points to something larger. And that's okay. It's even okay to practice multiple forms of yoga. The universe doesn't care.
So Many Techniques
As for yoga training techniques, they are as plentiful and different as the various forms of yoga to which they apply. They range from the basic to the complex. Best of all, there are ways to incorporate virtually any training technique into whatever form of yoga you prefer.
Let's start with meditation. Nearly every form of yoga incorporates meditation techniques in one form or another. You know why. We meditate to cultivate mindfulness and inner peace. We meditate to set distractions aside and focus on the moment.
Some other fairly common training techniques include:
Asana – These are the physical postures that form the basis of most yoga training.
Pranayama – Breathing is essential to yoga, which is why pranayama is so important.
Mantras – Certain types of yoga training, like kundalini, make use of mara's and chanting.
Philosophy – Incorporating philosophical training can help students better understand their preferred form of yoga.
Again, there are many other training techniques I could mention but won't. You get the point. Just let me suggest one more thing: anatomy and physiology training. In some yoga training classes, the study of anatomy and physiology helps both teachers and students better understand the human body. A better understanding makes yoga a more productive exercise.
The Techniques That Work for You
A big part of my contribution lies in my role as an international yoga educator. I am thrilled to be able to act in that capacity. But the way I do things isn't the only way. The knowledge I possess isn't the full body of knowledge available to be learned.
I say all of this to reinforce the idea that there are lots of different training techniques within the yoga universe. Learn the techniques that work for you. Teach those to others. And when someone offers to show you a new technique, approach it with an open mind.
If there was just one way to do things, what would yoga actually be? Personally, I am very thankful for the broad range of yoga practices and training techniques available to us all.