This week's expert: Beth Spindler has been an ERYT500 (experienced registered yoga teacher at the 500 hour study level) since 2003. She has practiced yoga for more than 30 years and taught it for more than 20. Spindler is also the director of Springfield's new Teach to Inspire Yoga Certification Program, which trains yoga teachers. The program, established June 25, meets the national education standards to certify individuals at the 200 and 500 hour study levels.
Q. Why did you think Springfield needed a yoga school?
A. Before we started our school here, there were eight registered yoga schools in Missouri, all of them in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. Many teachers or would be teachers were traveling to those cities or to Arkansas to receive certification. Springfield needed an accessible, affordable training program, and now we have one.
Q. Do certain personalities lend themselves better to being yoga instructors?
A. It is almost easier to state what personalities don't make good teachers. Those who want to show off their own skills or abilities are not always able to empathize with students.
Compassion, and the desire to help each student feel better when they leave your class, is key to being a good yoga instructor.
Those wanting to teach yoga have a range of backgrounds, from college students to professors, accountants, musicians and physical therapists.
Yoga means 'union' in Sanskrit, the Indian language in which yoga was originally taught. In practice, yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit. Sometimes when a student taps into this, he or she wants to share it with others.
Q. What draws people to practice yoga?
A. People come from all areas to practice yoga. Many have read about yoga or tried a video and are curious to learn more. Some have a doctor's recommendation. Some come to broaden spiritual horizons, some to lengthen hamstrings.
Q. How long does it take to become an expert at teaching yoga?
A. Do you mean in lifetimes? I don't know: I am still a student.
I have studied with many people who are experts in the physical practice of yoga, or asana. The only expert at the spiritual side of yoga I have ever known never put us into any other pose than seated meditation.
However, it can take less than a year to become a certified teacher at the 200-hour level through our program, which encompasses asana and alignment, breathing technique, knowledge of Sanskrit, yoga philosophy, physiology (both Western and ayurvedic) and a broad range of styles.
Q. What are the health benefits to doing yoga? Are there separate health benefits to teaching yoga?
A. As yoga teachers, we witness amazing transformations in people's bodies. We see relief from chronic health issues ranging from fibromyalgia to co-dependency. We see people recover after cancer, surgery and grief.
The health benefit for the yoga teacher: Helping others unfold and heal. Sharing a 5,000 year old wisdom and watching it work its wonder on yet another generation of seekers is powerful.
By Nina Rao
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
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