You walk into a yoga bucuresti class and the person at the front of the room welcomes you with a friendly smile. You listen to their voice as they cue you through your practice, and you trust that they have your best interest in mind. But who are these people and what makes them qualified to lead you through your flow?
A yoga teacher is a professional who teaches a variety of yoga classes, including asana (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. They can also teach a wide range of other aspects of the yoga lifestyle, such as dietary recommendations and stress reduction. They can work with small groups of students or large classrooms, and they must be comfortable with both quiet contemplation and energetic movement.
Yoga is an ancient physical and mental practice that originated in India, combining meditation, breathing techniques, stretching poses and strength-building moves. It has a long history of being handed down from one teacher to another, and it’s believed that the earliest codification of yoga was in the book called “The Yoga Sutras” around 400 C.E. The word yoga means union, and it’s intended to create unity between the body, mind and spirit — as well as the individual self and the universal consciousness. The yogic goal is to transcend the ego-personality and experience true freedom.
Some studies suggest that practicing yoga regularly can help improve mood and sleep, as well as strengthen muscles, balance and flexibility. It can even boost metabolism and improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, because it restores the body’s baroreceptor sensitivity, which helps regulate blood pressure. The practice of yoga can also encourage a state of calmness that promotes mental clarity, empathy and compassion.
Practicing yoga may also make you feel happier, according to research that finds a regular yoga practice can significantly reduce levels of depression and increase serotonin. It’s possible that these effects are a result of the increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex, which is linked to happiness, and the reduced activity of the amygdala, which helps control negative emotions.
Corinna Keenmon, MD, a psychiatry specialist who leads Houston Methodist’s psychiatry and telepsychiatry program, says that yoga is a great way to relieve stress and tension and to help with the management of chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines and PTSD. The practice can also improve muscle strength and endurance, increase flexibility and lower blood pressure. For these reasons, it’s not surprising that a growing number of people are turning to yoga to maintain both mental and physical fitness. As a result, many yoga teachers are in high demand, and those who complete a yoga teacher training course often find jobs at yoga studios and fitness centers. These professionals must be comfortable teaching a wide variety of students, including those who are physically or mentally challenged. Continuing education opportunities help yoga teachers keep their skills sharp so that they can offer modifications to any student who walks into the room.