Joanne Highland, Author at Mind is the Master

Tips on How to Sequence a Yoga Class For Beginners

Every yoga teacher training course covers sequencing as part of their curriculum, providing many strategies instructors can use to offer engaging yoga classes. As a newly certified teacher, I remember feeling eager to put this knowledge to work and inspired to craft innovative sequences with creative transitions and exciting flows....

The 10 Most Common Elements of a Yoga Teacher Training

Some people feel a deep connection to yoga from the moment they step on their mat. For others like me, it’s more of a slow burn. I kept a dedicated personal practice for ten years before I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a yoga teacher training.My...

The 7 Best Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Online in 2024

With its rich history spanning over a thousand years, hatha yoga has earned a reputation for its accessibility, accommodating practitioners of all skill levels. Its deliberate pace and mindful approach have made it a cornerstone of the yoga tradition.As yoga's popularity continues to grow, so does the range of options...

3 Key Differences Between Yin Yoga and Hatha Yoga

Yoga has come a long way since its origin in Ancient India. Today, when most people think about yoga, they generally picture a person stretching and holding poses – what we recognize as Hatha yoga.As yoga spread to the Western world throughout the 20th century, dozens of new styles developed,...

7 Tips for Landing a Yoga Instructor Job

Congratulations, new yoga teachers, and welcome to the community! Now that you’ve completed your 200-hour yoga teaching certificate, what’s next?As I’ve navigated this ever-evolving industry, I’ve learned that landing your first yoga instructor job is more than just showcasing your knowledge of asanas and philosophy. And I understand firsthand the...

Pilates

Understanding the Differences Between Yoga and Pilates

To someone just beginning their fitness journey, yoga and Pilates look pretty similar. In their simplest forms, both involve lying on a mat using isometric muscle contractions to build strength and muscle tone. Additionally, both emphasize breath control to enhance practice. They even share some of the same body positions.Despite...

How Yoga Affects the Nervous System

As yoga gained popularity in the West throughout the 20th century, its main draw consisted of physical perks like coordination, muscle tone, and flexibility. In recent years, however, more people have embraced the practice for its impact on mental well-being. It’s now widely accepted and scientifically supported that yoga helps...

Why You Should Never Skip Savasana

Among hundreds of yoga poses, including advanced, impressive, contorted, balancing, or inverted asanas, the one pose we yoga teachers jokingly (but not really) call the most difficult to master might surprise you.Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is the final resting posture we typically assume at the end of a yoga session....

Inclusivity Tips for Yoga Teachers

Anyone who has attended a yoga teacher training has likely learned the traditional definition of “yoga.” For a refresher – it comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” meaning to “yoke” together. This definition refers to how yoga unites the body, mind, and spirit within each individual who commits to the...

Yoga Sequencing for Chakra Balancing

Balance is a characteristic commonly associated with practicing yoga. Standing on one leg in Tree Pose or inverting yourself into a handstand are classic demonstrations of “yoga.”It’s true – we do a lot of physical balancing in asana practice, and yoga is a fantastic way to build better balance. However,...