How Ayurveda Can Support You as a Yoga Teacher

Ayurveda is an ancient healing system dating back 5,000 years. Derived from the Vedas, it was always practiced in what is known as Sadhana - which means conscious spiritual practice or protocols, meaning practices that you do in your life consciously with the intention of healing. So you could, for example, say that preparing a beautiful meal is a Sadhana. If you really put love and care into the food, using the best fresh ingredients, set the table nicely, light a candle – that is a Sadhana. Sadhana is to make a ritual out of something that would otherwise be quite mundane. In the same way, we can bring Ayurveda into teaching yoga. Read on to find out how this ancient wisdom can support you as a yoga teacher. 

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE WITH STUDENTS
In individual conversations, students may ask you questions about health or life that go beyond the philosophies and practice of Hatha Yoga. The fundamental underpinnings of Ayurvedic theory and practice can be a useful perspective from which to draw. (This does not imply, of course, that teachers who are not Ayurvedic practitioners should ever dictate, “prescribe” or otherwise respond outside their areas of expertise. Rather, we are talking to the fact that as we support students in developing their inner awareness and external support systems, such a vital system as Ayurveda can provide a perspective for ideas.)

OFFERING INDIVIDUALISED GUIDANCE WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DOSHAS
An understanding of doshas in Ayurveda provides a logical way to individualise both Hatha Yoga practices (asana and pranayama) as well as diet and other lifestyle practices. For example, a student’s descriptions of her non-stop work day and fiery approach to life can prompt us to give suggestions based on a pitta-balancing routine of asana, pranayama and mantra.

SEASONAL PLANNING OF CLASSES
Ayurveda is a perfect complement to seasonal planning of classes. If offers wisdom that can guide practices season to season, person to person as a way of continually returning to balance. See the Seasonal Yoga Hub for examples.

HELP YOUR STUDENTS RESTORE BALANCE
When offering guidance to students as a way to grow in their practice, we can benefit greatly by using Ayurveda as a primary tool for identifying imbalances and considering ways of restoring balance.

Keen to learn more about Ayurveda?
Bhakti Rose offers a comprehensive and complete online Ayurveda Goddess Training for women of all ages. The training is part sacred immersion into the teachings (practice) and part information gathering and lecture format (education). You will be refreshed, re-balanced and ready to share what you have absorbed. Find out more here.

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