An enlightened knowledge to enlighten tutors

Another international yoga day has come and where are we at with that resolution of our’s to practice yoga in order to be healthy? Every year on 21st June, the onset of Dakshinayan or summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the world celebrates International Yoga Day.

The world looks at India as the home for this spiritual art and Indians stare at their TV sets, looking at our Prime Minister and a few others putting up a show for the world; often being motivated to try yoga ourselves. But how many of us actually manage to achieve this? Not many, we would say.

But if I were to say that as tutors we have a lot to relate to when it comes to this form of exercise, would it be convincing?

Flexibility and regular practice are the key factors of turning an amateur practitioner into a pro. Same is the case with us, tutors, we need to be knowledgeable and up-to-date with our knowledge, as well as be flexible enough to alter and manage our knowledge. Yoga is about building core strength; similarly, if we keep our basics strong then we are prepared for all doubts.

Tadasana or Mountain Pose:

Like the simple pose of Tadasana or Mountain pose we need to stand tall and be sure of our knowledge. Tutors need to be confident that they will provide only absolutely correct answers to their students. But while we stand in Tadasana, we have to be sure that our shoulders aren’t too stiff. While showcasing the authority of being tutors, we need to be sure that we keep our students comfortable and be friendly with them.

Uttanasana or Forward Fold:

This is another commonly known yogasana. Here we learn that even with our head down we are able to keep our spine straight. There is no shame in accepting our mistakes. We are all humans after all. Same holds true while facing students. Be polite and accept our mistakes. Just like uttanasana allows the blood to flow to our brain, this simple practice will allow us to think and learn something new.

Vrikshasana or Tree Pose:

Only if we have a calm mind, we can manage to hold this pose for any said amount of time. Don’t we face the same kind of situation while solving doubts? All we need at times like this is to keep a cool head. Be patient and composed, and we will be able to handle every student and answer their doubts.

Trikonasana or Triangle Pose:

Tutors or not, we all have a life lesson to learn from this pose. Bending towards one side, one hand on the ground and the other stretched towards the sky with our head facing upwards. This is the ideal way to deal with life. The hands denote that while we reach for the sky, we should not forget to stay grounded and humbled, all the while facing towards the aim that we want to reach.

There is a lot that we can learn from Yoga, these are just a few things that I felt like sharing. But according to me the most important lesson being the practice of breathing properly. Concentrate on our breathing, on our living, and all our other muscles will work on their own accord.

Just like the international yoga guru, B K S Iyengar says, “My body is my temple and my asanas my prayers.”
We say,“Our education and knowledge are our temple and regular practice and study are the prayers that we have to offer.”