Search for a Yoga teacher

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

My search for finding good instruction to advance my yoga practice is not going anywhere. I feel so frustrated not to find a yoga instructor for my goals.

I talked to few yoga studio places around where I live; but not getting anywhere. They are not able to answer some of my very basic questions like what is covered in a certain class. It was also a bit annoying for someone not to even pronounce or know the meaning of a specific class.

I have been practicing yoga at home for over 2 months now. I have come to a point when it is not challenging anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy it and it feels great, but there is an element of challenge and progress not existing anymore which might turn into lack of interestes and less of enjoyment eventually. I believe it’s human nature, at least my nature. I have invested quite some money in good books. Invest quite a lot of time in reading as much as I can from all kinds of online resources. I really want to take my practice to the next level and find myself without much of options. Most of you have at some point advised me to get proper instructions from a trained guru/instructor/teacher. I really respect your advise but honestly from my perspective it sometimes upsets me, annoys me and I get very frustrated. I am trying hard to find a teacher but not getting anywhere. I totally understand and agree that proper instructions are very important especially when I want to now try and do intermediate and advanced poses, breathing, bandhas, meditation etc etc. I really don’t want to hurt myself while doing this and getting instructions from a instructor makes 100% sense.

When I inquired at a few yoga places, they had not interest to answer my questions about what a certain class is all about. They had no interest in understanding what my goals are. All they cared about telling me are the schedules. They were not able to answer my basic questions on what is different between 1 class and the other class so I could make a decision on what I want to do. They had classes like Ashtanga, Vinyasa, vigouress flow, flow, yoga-pilates fusion, etc etc. When asked what are they, the description for all of them was same. :slight_smile:

Right now I am left with no choice but just check out each of the class and see if it helps me. But I also risk to be more frustrated of not getting what I am looking for after spending money and time.

Have you been through this? Please help me.

#2

yalgaar – I didn’t go through that, but I admit I would be frustrated with the experience you describe. I have a bias (given me by my education, I believe) that if someone can’t put an idea into words, they probably really don’t understand it themselves.

Simultaneously there are lots of questions that are easier to ask in words than they are to answer in words. Imagine having to answer the question, “Who are you?” without recourse to family or occupational references. Nine letters to ask the question; a lifetime of trial and error to answer it.

So, what questions are you asking? Some teachers on the forum might be able to give you context. Maybe there are phrases from teacher training that will help guide the folks you are talking with to recognize the information you need.

Oh, and, where are you? (and how many miles/km can you go from there for a yoga class?)

#3

Hi Yalgaar,

Please let me know where do you live. I may be able to locate some yoga center for you.

Cheers,
Kapil

P.S. For some basic information, you can visit - artoflivingvikaspuri.org

#4

Thank you so much for reading my post and your efforts to help me.

I am in Central NJ. My zip code is 08854.

I am willing to travel as long as 30min each way.

#5

[QUOTE=Techne;20728]yalgaar – I didn’t go through that, but I admit I would be frustrated with the experience you describe. I have a bias (given me by my education, I believe) that if someone can’t put an idea into words, they probably really don’t understand it themselves.

Simultaneously there are lots of questions that are easier to ask in words than they are to answer in words. Imagine having to answer the question, “Who are you?” without recourse to family or occupational references. Nine letters to ask the question; a lifetime of trial and error to answer it.

So, what questions are you asking? Some teachers on the forum might be able to give you context. Maybe there are phrases from teacher training that will help guide the folks you are talking with to recognize the information you need.

Oh, and, where are you? (and how many miles/km can you go from there for a yoga class?)[/QUOTE]

I am first telling them what I am currently practicing at home and what my goals are. I want them to re-commend me the right class based on my current knowledge and my goals. Like I mentioned they seemed less interested to know my practice and goals at all.

#6

Hi Yalgaar, please let me know the city name - Califon, Jersey City,Mahwah,Matawan,Metuchen,Parsipanny,Pennington,Princeton,Randolph,South Orange?

Cheers,
Kapil
artoflivingvikaspuri.org

#7

[QUOTE=kaps78@gmail.com;20734]Hi Yalgaar, please let me know the city name - Califon, Jersey City,Mahwah,Matawan,Metuchen,Parsipanny,Pennington,Princeton,Randolph,South Orange?

Cheers,
Kapil
artoflivingvikaspuri.org[/QUOTE]

Piscataway, NJ 08854

#8

[QUOTE=kaps78@gmail.com;20734]Hi Yalgaar, please let me know the city name - Califon, Jersey City,Mahwah,Matawan,Metuchen,Parsipanny,Pennington,Princeton,Randolph,South Orange?

Cheers,
Kapil
artoflivingvikaspuri.org[/QUOTE]

Out of all the towns you listed, Metuchen is closest to where I live.

#9

Ok, cool. Please contact Maya Yajnik.

#10

Hi Yalgaar,

please let me know if that information was helpful.

Cheers,
Kapil
artoflivingvikaspuri.org

#11

[QUOTE=kaps78@gmail.com;20738]Hi Yalgaar,

please let me know if that information was helpful.

Cheers,
Kapil
artoflivingvikaspuri.org[/QUOTE]

Dear Kapil,

Thank you very much for the information. I just called them. Spoke to somebody and they will be getting back to me shortly to let me know the scheudles of the class that would fit my goals.

Regards
Yalgaar

#12

Wow, I hope this is successful!

As I read your subsequent posts on what you tell them and ask for, it could be they are reluctant to give you a recommendation because they would rather see you in some asanas to have appropriate context for that recommendation. Self-study and honesty are big parts of yoga but no teacher should expect someone to be able to give verbally a complete description of their current state.

If, for some odd reason, Kapil’s recommendation doesn’t pan out, you might consider requesting one private lesson from a teacher at your studio of choice (based on a general impression of their class times and their physical environment) who is familiar with all of what the studio can offer, and stipulate that part of the private lesson should include a recommendation on how to proceed with regularly scheduled classes. That might be as expensive as the trial and error approach, but it shouldn’t take nearly as much time.