  Here we have two of our recent graduates with their 200hr. Yoga teachers certificate who eventually after many disruptions have completed their teacher training here at Mind Yoga Teaching Academy.
We are wishing Jayne and Theresa all good things for their future in Yoga! Well done girls! :)
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Dear yogis and yoginis; There is an effect that has crept into modern day yoga that I feel should not be happening. My greatest concern is for the people who are suffering injuries and the reputation of the quality discipline that is Yoga. Evidence shows that there are more and more younger people experiencing horrific injuries due to them feeling that they have to exhibit a more extreme version of an asana than is safe for their body to do, whether this is by physical contortion, or choosing a ridiculously unsafe location for their exhibition. “Alexa Terrazas, 23, was pictured hanging upside down on a balcony in Mexico Monday. Moments later, she survived a 25-metre fall that resulted in 110 broken bones.” - Global News Read more here…. https://globalnews.ca/news/5824341/woman-fall-extreme-yoga/ My advice is, can we please stop this nonsense, yoga should be for your own personal advancement, not an ego boosting demonstration to be peacocked on social media. And not just on social media, generally, many of the pictures I see are not anatomically beneficial to the individual performing them and with the use of programs like Photoshop, give false hope to those who think they can do these poses in a short period of time. “A Maryland woman had a stroke from performing a physically demanding yoga movement back in late 2017 and she is still recovering from chronic pain nearly 18 months on” – The Epoch Times. More information can be found here... https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/video/instagram-star-suffers-stroke-yoga-move-61947092 When the body feels strong there can be a misconception of invincibility, which comes with youth, and the continuous misinformation from the thing that is the modern misperception that you can have anything now. However, many of us entering the middle chapter of our lives know that it takes years of practice and hard work in order to achieve the combination of strength and flexibility before approaching advanced poses, we have wised up to the realization that it is (and always was), very unsafe not to take the time necessary for this progression. If you are currently awed by the extreme acrobatic displays of yoga on social media please take a few moments to reflect on the aftermath this type of yoga has brought. “A couple of years ago, my body started telling me it was exhausted and didn’t want to do long practices or extreme poses. Did I listen? No. I had big plans, work to do, classes to film, and bills to pay.” – Laura Burkhart Read more here… https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/10-ways-to-get-real-about-your-bodys-limitations-avoid-yoga-injuries Things to be considered when you are viewing yoga on social media:
There will always be an abundance of 18 to 40 year-olds selling fitness products and plans. On the heels of a massive boom in 200hr yoga teacher trainee graduates, there are now even more that believe they have been given the knowledge and experience they need to be experts within a physical or nutritional field, not realizing they were not taught ¾ of the knowledge they still need to acquire. Meanwhile, mother natures’ glossy veneer of youth inspires and motivates them to change the world. Since they don’t realize, or even choose to ignore, that so many things change with time, not many will keep pursuing their original plan as middle age sets in. For young, impressionable souls, under the guise that the system they are learning is indefinitely beneficial, when the stark reality of the flaws in the system come to their attention it can prove too late. Irene Pappas even wrote a blog post titled, “Why I stopped practicing contortion.” Read more here…http://www.fitqueenirene.com/blog/ So many things change with time; goals and interests, energy levels, hormones, not to mention bodies! I remember buying a particular fitness magazine in my 20's that I thought gave decent information, however I was rather dismayed to see that this same magazine, 20 years later, hadn’t changed its content one bit. I suppose it was never marketing to the over 40’s crowd, but looking back, had I known what I know now I would have never bought it to begin with. Almost every page is full of promises that: 1. Won’t last 2. Aren’t true 3. Have dangerous consequences The mainstream yoga community has recently been rocked by the fall from grace of some very prominent names and lineages, for ultimately, the reasons listed above. I am extremely grateful that my yoga and movement education took place in circumstances far removed from this and am angered and saddened for the victims who were cheated out of a genuine, healing and wholesome relationship with yoga. The misuse of yoga has likely caused many practitioners to have to re-evaluate the gurus, the methodology and indeed the entire premise upon which they were practicing those methods in the first place. How could someone like K. Pattabhi Jois who popularized and made elusive claims to being ashtanga yoga’s creator, expect prospective teachers to understand the implications of the extreme method he practiced and yet grant them certification to teach within 6-months-time of their arrival? It almost indicates that KPJ didn’t want them to fully understand what they were being ‘qualified’ to do, or, KPJ did not have sufficient education in anatomy and physiology to understand the implications himself. There are many senior ashtanga teachers now speaking out regarding this, Gregor Maehle and Guy Donahaye have done much to expose Jois’ inappropriate actions, and Matthew Remski has written extensively on the abuse covered up for decades within ashtanga yoga in his book “Practice and All is Coming.” It is worth noting that it was not only the ashtanga branch that was taught with little regard for the longevity of bodily integrity. Many teacher training programs were emerging out of this push more be more, yoga mentality. Yet as William J. Broad points out in his book “The Science of Yoga,” (in the context of injuries) “Few yoga books ever spoke of the danger – or looked into the medical literature – and the grim topic seldom made the upbeat pages of yoga magazines. Now a major survey done by yoga professionals had documented the threat. It was an honest first. Another surprise centered on judgements about what explained the injuries. The choices for survey takers included such factors as large classes, too much effort, and expanded ranks of students. A vast majority of the respondents – 68 percent – pointed to ‘inadequate teacher training.’ That was remarkable because most were teachers. In effect, they were criticizing themselves and their peers. The candor went to an inconspicuous deficiency in modern yoga – that teacher training varies enormously in quantity and quality from slapdash to rigorous. You can get certified as an instructor with as little as 100 hours of training and even do the course entirely online, putting in no time whatsoever in a classroom and getting no supervision from an experienced teacher.” There is hope however, there are other methods of practice heavily integrated in anatomy and physiology, which completely nullify potential for horrific injuries so commonly endured when practicing a style of yoga which toes the line with gymnastics. My education came from a western anatomical and physiological practice and I only ventured my first tentative steps into teaching, almost 20 years ago, after over 4,500 hours of practical education in the subject. Since then, I have worked extremely hard to build on that foundation of knowledge and have the all the skills and knowledge I need to enjoy a robust athletic asana practice and yet keep the integrity of my physical body well into old age. I am fortunate enough to comfortably enjoy the best of both worlds in this sense, something that is rare among a traditional vigorous asana practice. My work in this area continues to be intense and nonstop because I am passionate about showing people that there is another way. For those who have the anatomical and physiological knowledge, the photographs on this website will speak volumes. For those who do not yet have this knowledge, there is teacher training at the studio that will educate prospective teachers to a new standard. I would like to sincerely thank my teachers for the depth and accuracy I was exposed to at such an early stage. I will be forever humbled by your kindness, wisdom and support, for you have given me an invaluable gift that no amount of money could ever buy. I have been doing my best ever since to make this world a better place thanks to your timeless knowledge and will continue to carry the torch for all of us, healing as many as possible. Love and Light, xox About the Author. Jill Little started teaching yoga in 2002, she was taught both in the U.S. and U.K. She is the owner / director at Mind Yoga and Rehab Studio and Mind Yoga Teaching Academy. Her style of yoga has developed from traditional Hatha, Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga with a mind to a safe effective and functional practice for all her students. Due to her intents, education into anatomy and physiology, and years of personal development in her own yoga practice she is now considered to be one of the U.K.’s finest yoga teachers.     Exciting news everyone, I am now a teacher trainer with Yoga Alliance Professionals! The following is a brief description of the studio, followed by the syllabus for the course which will begin on 22/02/20. More details can be found on my Yoga Alliance Professionals page: www.yogaallianceprofessionals.org/united-kingdom/enniskillen/teacher-trainer/mind-yoga-teaching-academy If you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher please send an email to mindyogateachingacademy@gmail.com Mind Yoga Teaching Academy Mind Yoga and Rehab Studio is owned and run by Jill Little, Jill has been teaching Yoga for over 17 years and in 2014 decided to open her own studio, where she offers both group and one to one yoga instruction. Situated in the picturesque town of Enniskillen, right in the centre of the Fermanagh lake lands, the studio provides a variety of yoga styles, including traditional Hatha, Vinyasa, Pre and Post Natal Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Yoga for Kids and special needs groups. At Mind Yoga, Jill is pleased to be able to offer you a comprehensive 200hr, highly accredited Yoga Teacher qualification, approved and accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals. The course is designed to give the student a broad knowledge of the many aspects of Yoga including anatomy and physiology, observation, safe alignments and adjustments, nutrition, Pranayama breathing techniques, meditation, how to design a class for beginners, advanced students, leading toward a specific asana, or for special populations. Whether it be on a one to one basis, or a group class, or for a large corporate event with the end result being that the trainee Yoga teacher will be adequately skilled to provide Yoga classes, using good verbal skills with accurate cues for their class, or for the ardent Yoga participant who would like to broaden their knowledge of Yoga for their own personal development. Mind Yoga offers an inclusive and relaxed environment which allows each individual to unlock their own unique potential. All course materials will be provided at the start of each learning weekend, with a recommended reading list for self improvement and development. Previous experience of Yoga is preferable, with a minimum of two years experience. Applicants should be healthy with stable circumstances, in order to take part in the course, having the dedication and concentration required. (However, all circumstances will be considered). The course schedule will be over 11 attended learning weekends, with a written assignment to be done after each weekend, covering the topic studied, applicants are also expected to attend and document at least 30 hours of Yoga classes attended, this can be at any location, during the course, confirmed by the teacher of that class. There will then be a final 12th weekend, which includes a 50 question multiple choice examination paper, and an assessment of their teaching ability. All awards and decisions will be at the discretion of Mind Yoga Teaching Academy. However, students can an are encouraged to question any decision that they are awarded. Personal details of teachers in training will be forwarded to Yoga Alliance Professionals for registration with YAP, and include their first years insurance. Applicants should apply in writing via email to: mindyogateachingacademy@gmail.com or further inquiries contact Jill on 07976217629 between 9:30am - 6pm Monday to Friday (GMT). For international students, accommodation on the attended weekends can be found at the Killyhevlin Hotel and Lakeside Chalets, Belmore Court Motel, or the Enniskillen Hotel, all of which are located within walking distance from the studio. Course Syllabus Module 1:
(SYT = Senior Yoga Teacher) Module 2:
Module 3:
Module 4:
Module 5:
Module 6:
Module 7:
Module 8:
Module 9:
Module 10:
Module 11:
Module 12:
  I have a secret... I don't just do yoga. And to anyone who knows me personally this is no secret! Would I advocate strength training? Without a shadow of a doubt. However, strength training alone was not what gave me my edge in a physical sense. Nor did it give me the rich psychological and spiritual benefits I uncovered. Am I an advocate of Yoga? Without a shadow of a doubt. More importantly, can these two seemingly opposite forms of training co-exist harmoniously? According the the yogic principals of acceptance and non - judgement, of course they can. According to the picture below, well, let's just say they worked for me. It was taken in 2008 after I won the NABBA Miss Toned Figure category. I did yoga about 5 times a week throughout my training and I credit my yoga practice for giving my torso enough rotation to get into the pose you see here. 
Not only that, since the kinetic chain of the body affects all parts, had my hamstrings, calves and chest muscles not been long enough, I would not have been able to hit the pose right either. Yoga gave my whole body a much longer and leaner appearance in general. And these were just the outer benefits you can see. Most importantly, it made me feel fantastic. If I had been thinking too much and putting myself under unnecessary stress, I did yoga. After my practice, if by magic, my thoughts became much clearer and my emotions serene. Many times I actually struggled to remember why I was so upset in the first place. I also felt like I could breathe. Not just everyday breathing, but big expansive, invigorating, life-giving breaths that I would never have gotten had I not spent time in focused practice. The more I did yoga, the more active and receptive I became in doing my own spiritual work and I gained insight into my life. I began to love the questions and question the answers. Perhaps it is simply because I am getting older, perhaps it has been because of yoga (although I suspect both) but if I could measure the level of fear I have harboured in the past on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the greatest, it has easily gone from a 10 to a 2. There will always be more to know, but some seemingly unanswerable questions I have had have indeed been answered. 'Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye shall find..' They really aren't kidding. I don't compete anymore. The more yoga I did the less competition I needed in my life and I started to let go. That is of course another yogic principle - non competitiveness. I did the show to simply prove to myself that I could. And I did. And I'm happy that I did. I don't quite look like that now but I still strength train. And the benefits I get from cross training with my yoga far outweigh any taboos. As anyone involved in sport knows, our muscles can become too tight, which is a breeding ground for injury, as is too much flexibility. And for that matter, too much of anything isn't good for us. I have many friends who combine yoga with strength and sports training. On a recent training course I attended, I had a memorable conversation with a Bikram instructor from China. I asked him if yoga was his only method of training and he shook his head. "No, not at all, I lift weights too." My eyes lit up. "Really? Me too!" Cue a long conversation about how much better we both felt doing our strength training because of our yoga, and vice versa. If our bodies thrive in a constant state of delicate balance, it would be a little presumptuous to say 'one can only do this, or one can only do that.' Would it not be more sensible to say 'one needs to do what is right for oneself?' We can all adhere to general guidelines of healthy living but let's face it, there is some grey area here too. 
That being said, there is more scientific research to back up the benefits of yoga than any other form of training. You can see the outer physical benefits, I can tell you about my own mental and spiritual experience with yoga, but the actual scientifically studied and documented health benefits? It turns out there are loads of them. For starters, check out Trisha Lamb's article on the International Association of Yoga Therapists website Health Benefits of Yoga. These are all scientifically studied and referenced findings on the physiological, psychological and biochemical effects yoga has on our bodies. If you would like to get even more technical, read James Funderburk's Science Studies Yoga, for the physiological changes that occur during the practice of specific asanas. And I believe science has only hit the tip of the iceberg here. If these are all the documented physiological changes, and if our mind has literally infinite creative capability, the possibilities for the human race are astounding! I can't wait for science to start proving this. In the meantime, I'll keep my hands to the mat and my feet under the squat rack and continue to reap the rewards of both. :-) 
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AuthorJill Little |
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