faq

How do I become a yoga teacher?

Most yoga studios, centers, and instructors offer some type of certification process. They vary length and intensities. Some occur on weekends, others daily for a number of weeks. But they all require you to complete them in full and demonstrate a capacity to teach. For more information on requirements, I suggest taking a look at the Yoga Alliance website.

Is your yoga teacher training appropriate for me? Am I ready?

When a person heads off to college, they generally have an interest in their field of study but rarely the experience. They take a series of courses, each building upon the next, within their discipline that expands their overall knowledge and skill. That’s pretty much the same purpose behind any type of yoga training. You needn’t have a decade of yoga experience under your belt to decide you’d like to teach the practice. It simply starts with a desire. If you feel you want to teach, yoga teacher training will give you a practical understanding of the art and expose you to a diverse number of styles. That being said, the more training you have can only strengthen your expertise. To this day, I still seek out different training sessions to develop my personal practice and what I can offer my students.

Your program consists of fewer days than other teacher trainings out there. How do you justify this?

Over the years of my teaching, I’ve tried many different program lengths or structures and found that this particular timeframe works the best. Besides the fact that most people don’t have a wealth of vacation at their disposal or are unable to get away for an entire month, it’s really best to learn and then put into practice. It’s much like the people who’ve participated in The Biggest Loser. While on the show, their path to weight-loss and fitness is far more straightforward. Temptations are kept at bay, time is structured, and focus is maintained by others. Once they go back to their own world, the true test begins. Only then will they experience genuine success since they are now able to put into practice all they’ve learned. A teacher only provides you with the history, theory, teachings, and practice, all very important provisions. It’s you who puts yourself into it.

How large is your average training group?

Typically, the groups average 16 people. This is a fabulous size for both me and participants. It gives everyone a chance for some one-on-one time, an opportunity to ask more detailed questions, and the occasion to lead. With this size, people don’t get lost in the crowd.

What is your predominant style?

First off, I was raised in a yoga household so I’ve been studying some form of yoga since I was a child. When I was older, I had the opportunity to study under BKS Iyengar and Gurmukh Khalsa. But if you were to classify it, I’d say I was close to Hatha with a tendency towards Flow. With that said, I truly believe that every teacher has their own original style, taking from what they’ve learned, be it a combination of Kundalini and Ashtanga or Bikram and Vinyasa, and incorporating it into their practice. You see, there is only one Marianne Wells in this world as there is only one you. So you could be a second-rate someone else or a first-rate original. You define your own style and provide your gifts to yoga.

How often should I practice?

If you’re truly serious about yoga (or even if you’re not), it’s always best to set aside a small portion of your day to practice. I feel 60 minutes of daily yoga works the best. If you can’t commit that amount of time, do less. Just try to practice once a day. Just set aside five-minutes. In one year, your practice will have grown to fifty-minutes or more – it’s hard for it not to have. Look at it this way; if you get up half an hour earlier than “normal,” you’ve got a good 45 minutes of study time. I say 45 minutes because once you’re done with your yoga, you’ll be more alert and move at a faster pace.

What are the benefits of practicing yoga?

There are numerous benefits to a regular practice of yoga. It not only helps you physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Regular practice can strengthen your core, tone your muscles, increase flexibility and range of motion, reduce stress, detoxify your body, and improve balance as well as dexterity. Many people notice a positive change in their sleep patterns, their focus, and their concentration. They find a noted improvement in memory, mood, and self-worth. The list truly goes on and on.

Should I be sore after yoga?

It all depends on the person. Some people may experience some soreness, while others may experience none. But no one should experience intense pain with their practice of yoga. Always make sure that you listen to your body with any form of exercise. Yoga is no different. So don’t push yourself. You can sustain injury from improper practice. It’s always best to work with a teacher before practicing on your own. They understand body mechanics and can easily point out when a posture is wrong. If you’re experiencing pain, tell your instructor. It’s an indication that you’re doing something wrong.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is egoless awareness. It is a practice through though and deed where we, without conclusion or contemplation, are present in the very moment we currently exist. When we first see anything, there is a brief moment of time where we experience genuine awareness of what it is before we reflect on it and categorize it. This moment is very short. But through the intention of meditation, this moment can flow into the next, allowing us to be constantly present in life.