Teaching in a Fitness Centre

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

I am teaching yoga in a fitness centre were everyone thinks yoga is only

stretching. I have

been asked to not include meditation in the classes that I teach.

Can you please suggest some great kriyas that are more " Mainstream " so the

clients can

receive the benefits of Kundalini yoga without being too challenged by mantra or

meditation!

I have made it clear that the Adi Mantra is not negotiable.

I would love to hear how others go teaching in fitness centres. I find it

challenging - I even

have to wear a blue uniform!

 

Shine Bright

 

Chloe / Dharamjot kaur

Australia

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam

 

I have also taught in a health fitness center. Though I did not have the restrictions outwardly expressed by your center, I did try to initially offer some sets that had less chanting. I love the morning Sadhana set because it covers so many areas of the body and makes them feel like it's more stretching. I also like one that Nirvair SK uses on his DVD Walk Tall with the Grace of God. It is in his big teaching manual but I don't own it so just took notes from the DVD. I also tend to use more breath meditations than the mantra based meditations.

 

However, I still do the opening and closing mantras and talk about using them to set the sacred space for practice and the importance of connecting into one's inner wisdom so they can truly listen to their body and not go too far. As always, it fits some people and not others. Overall I have found that Kundalini Yoga hasn't been a great fit at the health center and now I teach elsewhere but it is doable.

 

Kirat Kaur

[Guest guest]

I once taught in a fitness center. I explained the Adi Mantra by

saying approaching it as a singer. The mantra is a terrific, fun,

easy way to establish breath support before practice. You can also do

a lot of pranayams, in lieu of meditation, since they create that

meditative space. Again - breath control.

 

As for sets, the 10 Bodies set is great for any level class, as are

several listed in The Owners Manual for the Human Body, and

Transitions to a Heart Centered World.

 

Dev Dharam K

[Guest guest]

I taught at the ymca fitness center a few years ago for several years. They

allowed the white clothing and turban, but We did not chant and the meditation

was also frowned on. I did sneak it in sometimes. Most of the sets we worked

with were basic sets such as kriya for elevation. I found it challenging in

many ways-students came from a workout and were not necessarily there for yoga

but some did come regularly. If you can play a cd, that helps lift the

vibration when you cannot meditate or chang.

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

In the early seventies when Yogi Bhajan taught at what is now the House

of Guru Ram Das in Los Angeles, we did not chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo

before his classes. Instead,he did a silent prayer in front of a simple

altar set up for this purpose in a corner of the room near his teaching

bench.

 

In the same way, we can close our eyes with our hands folded for a few

moments, centering ourselves, and do a few silent Ong Namo Guru Dev

Namos, with the mental intent of encompassing everyone present in the

blessing.

 

Loving Blessings,

Guruprem Kaur