reputable teachers

[Guest guest]

ok <br>now that i've found out the HARD

way:<br>ideas for reputable people to seriously study with (in

the US or canada)<br><br>here's what i have so

far<br><br>richard freeman<br>david swenson<br>lino ????<br>tias

little??? (where is he?)<br><br>And, i may be attacked for

this, but i've said before i'm NOT an uber purist>

So on my list (hold the criticism please)

go<br><br>bbb<br>white lotus foundation<br>ana forrest (but i can't

afford her training anyway)<br><br>any other

suggestions?<br><br>thanks<br>jess

[Guest guest]

Sorry to hear of your experience with your

teacher. Glad you stood up for what is right. I'm sure

Larry appreciates it too. It may not be the greatest

crime to pass out copies of the manual, since anyone

can print it out from the web, but it certainly isn't

right not to give credit to the author. (Not a bad

manual either).<br><br>Yoga teacher "certification" is

an ongoing debate that is covered in Yoga Journal

from time to time, most recently in the MAY/JUN 2000

issue. I think the main issue is just having some way to

make sure teachers aren't helping people injure

themselves. Any particular "camp" may have their own

certification program. The Ashtanga requirements have been

discussed in recent posts. The Iyengar people have strict

requirements also. You can find a list of certified Iyengar

teachers here: <a href=http://www.bksiyengar.com/

target=new>http://www.bksiyengar.com/</a><br><br>Many

great teachers have no "credentials", just their own

experience, which may include much study with other teachers.

You can always just take classes and workshops with

good teachers from time to time rather than spending a

fortune on a teacher training program. The important

thing is spending enough time to learn what you need to

know, which may take years. But you can also start

teaching anytime. That is probably the best training

program. My teacher started by teaching groups of

interested friends. He opened his own studio ten years later

after having travelled all over the world studying with

many teachers including Pattabhi Jois and BNS Iyengar.

He is not listed on the official list - it doesn't

matter. But no matter how much training you get from

others, you need to keep educating yourself. And one of

the most important sources of knowledge for any

teacher is your students. Always have the attitude that

you are learning and that you can learn from anyone,

even your students. I think it is smart for you not to

limit yourself to studying Ashtanga. Even if you decide

that this is the path for you to practice and teach,

it is very useful to have the perspective gained

from broader study. <br><br>*** Just my opinions *** I

am not a yoga teacher ***<br><br><br>Tias Little is

based in Santa Fe, NM. He travels a lot. Here is his

website:<br><a href=http://www.yogasource-santafe.com/

target=new>http://www.yogasource-santafe.com/</a><br><br>I like him a lot. Also

like Sarah Powers and

Godfrey Devereux. All three of these teachers have

studied deeply in the Ashtanga tradition but have also

studied Iyengar yoga and other disciplines as

well.<br><br>I keep a giant list of links to Ashtanga and other

yoga websites here:

<a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yoga.htm

target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yoga.htm</a><br>(may be useful in

investigating teachers and training

programs)<br><br>The more yoga teachers the better, so don't let

anyone discourage you.

[Guest guest]

Your motives and your courage are admirable, and

of course "studying intensely" is the key. But have

you studied intensely long enough to think you might

be ready to teach? That's the key

question.<br><br>Lino (Miele) is really good. My teacher studies with

him as well as with KPJ, and I've done several

workshops with him. But he lives in Rome and spends most of

his time teaching in Europe or studying in India.

Doesn't get to the States much.<br><br>I think Tias

Little (no relation) is somewhere in New

Mexico.<br><br>Ana Forrest sounds really interesting, judging by

reviews I've read of her workshops. I'd certainly be

interested in studying with her, but I think she's based in

LA and I have no great interest in going

there.<br><br>All these people probably charge teaching fees at

least as steep as Patthabi Jois; and if they don't live

where you live, then studying with them for useful

periods of time means time off work and staying away from

home somewhere with a western cost of living. If you

look into it, you might find that by comparison a trip

to India is more affordable than you

think.<br><br>Or - you seem to be commendably open-minded about

styles and dogma and rightly more concerned with the

quality of the teacher - find a good teacher of some

other form of yoga near where you live.

[Guest guest]

Jessabelson, <br><br>check out the official

recommendations at

<br><br><a

href=http://www.ashtanga.com/action.lasso?-search&-database=yogaw.fp3&-layout=w&\

-sortfield=last%20day&-sortorder=ascending&-response=workshops.html&present=y&-f\

indall

target=new>http://www.ashtanga.com/action.lasso?-search&-database=yogaw.fp3&-lay\

out=w&-sort

field=last%20day&-sortorder=ascending&-response=workshops.html&present=y&-findal

l</a><br><br>Regards<br>Thomas

[Guest guest]

<< Lino (Miele) is really good....But he

lives in Rome and spends most of his time teaching in

Europe or studying in India. Doesn't get to the States

much. >><br><br>Well, up to a point: in recent

years, Lino has been regularly holding workshops at

Moksha Yoga Shala in Chicago. Check the workshop reviews

by Cara Jepsen in the "articles" section of Betty's

ashtanga.com site.

[Guest guest]

>>Lino has been regularly holding workshops

at Moksha Yoga Shala in Chicago<br><br>This is true,

and I was aware of it. And weekend workshops are fun,

and you can pick up plenty of useful practice hints

and tips from them. But they are completely

irrelevant to the kind of long term, close apprenticeship

that any kind of true teacher training requires.

[Guest guest]

HI - Well, actually I was referring to your

sentence: "Doesn't get to the States much." In fact, Lino

comes to the States every year. But maybe I

misunderstood your message. Sorry. Anyway, if you intend to

become an Astanga-Yoga teacher, isn't MYSORE the best

place to learn?

[Guest guest]

yes, but:<br><br>1. Money/plane tickets/lodging etc<br><br>2. Needing to work as

well<br><br>It will happen eventually when i'm older and richer.

[Guest guest]

Hi Alan---<br>good points, all of

them.<br><br>I've only "studied intensely" for about nine or ten

months. Not much, I know.<br><br>I think one part of the

process is definitely ongoing mentoring. I've found a

program at an astanga based studio near me that involves

both "training" and ongoing mentoring

(www.o2yoga.com---but the training stuff isn't on their site.) Next

training is next winter. I can do the "away" thing, but

only for a month max financially (whether india or

elsewhere).<br><br>one more option for me would be ye basic yoga

alliance 200 hr hatha certification to start, and then

over a period of YEARS moving deeper into ashtanga

training and practice. <br><br>What i'm looking for right

now is the ye basic yoga alliance certification as a

stepping stone or starting point. If i teach with it, it

won't /can't be ashtanga. That will be a long term

evolution.....<br><br>I am also interested in exploring other forms of

non ashtanga yoga, particularly (like i said) ana

forrest and white lotus. Ana's program doesn't work for

me because its $2500 PLUS lodging PLUS planes.

<br><br>Its ok if my starting point in this isn't the end all

and be all epitome of ashtanga (like PJ)-=--I will

get there eventually. For now i need something to be

a good, solid, foundational starting point. while

i'd love to go to india, its NOT a trip i can forsee

being able to afford repeating a lot (like "certified"

teachers have to). Considering it to be a one shot deal

with me (or maybe two shots) part of me thinks I'd

rather wait till i've been practicing longer and have a

deeper appreciation. <br><br>Also, while i am FAR from

being qualified to teach ashtanga, i really would like

to bring the fundamentals of yoga (breath! presence

in the movement and moment) to people. and, to

teach, most places do want a piece of paper that somehow

says you're certified to do something.<br><br>I'm not

ready to even consider calling myself an ashtanga

teacher. However, I do have considerable experience

working with people on their issues (worked as a

counselor for battered women) options, presence, and

awareness, as well as a good deal of (seven years worth) of

knowledge of fitness/ movement. All of these can be

elements of any yoga practice. For me, yoga is first and

foremost a healing practice. And thats something I've been

working with (healing and awareness) with myself and

others for a long time. Ashtanga, not yet. Not truly for

a long time. Yoga, yes. I feel as if anyone who has

a passion for yoga, some experience,and an

understanding and empathy for humans and emotions is in a good

place if they want to learn more....<br><br>namaste,

all.<br>Jess

[Guest guest]

I think the best thing for you to do would be to

visit some REALLY SERIOUS Astanga classes - someone

here mentioned Eddie Stern in New York, and it seems

to me to be a very good idea. Take up contact with

other people/students who do serious Astanga. Ask them

what in your case - little money, need to work, etc -

would be best to do; just asking doesn't cost you

anything (you could also try to ask Eddie Stern for

advice). Becoming a serious Astanga-Yoga teacher is not

something only rich people can afford. Try to get into

contact with the "right" people, and concentrate the

little resources that are available to you on the

essential. Just a suggestion. I wish you good luck and all

the best anyway.

[Guest guest]

only one on the east coast is Eddie Stern at the Pantanjali Yoga Shala in New

York city (located in SOHO)<br><br>El Senor Pinche Wey, Ole!