YOGA GROUPS
If you are a yoga teacher, here are some ideas on how to introduce Bhakti to your yoga studentsGET SOME INSPIRATION BY LOOKING BELOW,
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BEGINNING
KIRTAN + DHARMA TALK
Do Kirtan for about 5 minutes before yoga practice. Give a talk on dharma. Sometimes in yoga classes, tteacher might share the intention for that practice and it takes around 1.5 minutes. Do not make it very specific that Krishna is God in the beginning, they don´t know who Krishna is. Some people may immediately ask questions regarding Krishna consciousness or about the chant.
BHAKTI YOGA IS DEFINITELY FOR YOGIS
because they are usually the kind of people who are trying to be nice to the world. So, Bhakti yoga can take them deeper into what they are already trying to do. You can explain that Bhakti means Love and it does not matter who they are in order to practice Bhakti yoga. Anyone can do it. Sooner or later some of them will ask, what is this? Who is Krishna? Who is Radha?
TECHNIQUES
PEACE OF MIND
A lot of people who practice yoga, started either because it is good physical exercise or because they are so stressed. They are looking for a really peaceful teacher who they can connect with on a much deeper level, so if they see that you are genuine, this will form a good basis. People will be drawn to you if you will be just who you are.
EXTRA TOOLS
Share a music and video playlist… Give books and prasadam, create Facebook or Whatsapp Groups… Give them some time to become friends: this will sustain the group. Offer a room in your home or a place outside, for the children to go, and someone to help you teach yoga classes for children.
BEGINNING
KIRTAN + DHARMA TALK
Do Kirtan for about 5 minutes before yoga practice. Give a talk on dharma. Sometimes in yoga classes, the teacher might share the intention for that practice and it takes around 1.5 minutes. Do not make it very specific that Krishna is God in the beginning, they don´t know who Krishna is. Some people may immediately ask questions regarding Krishna consciousness or about the chant.
TECHNIQUES
PEACE OF MIND
A lot of people who practice yoga, started either because it is good physical exercise or because they are so stressed. They are looking for a really peaceful teacher who they can connect with on a much deeper level, so if they see that you are genuine, this will form a good basis. People will be drawn to you if you will be just who you are.
BHAKTI YOGA IS DEFINITELY FOR YOGIS
because they are usually the kind of people who are trying to be nice to the world. So, Bhakti yoga can take them deeper into what they are already trying to do. You can explain that Bhakti means Love and it does not matter who they are in order to practice Bhakti yoga. Anyone can do it. Sooner or later some of them will ask, what is this? Who is Krishna? Who is Radha?
EXTRA TOOLS
Share a music and video playlist… Give books and prasadam, create Facebook or Whatsapp Groups… Give them some time to become friends: this will sustain the group. Offer a room in your home or a place outside, for the children to go, and someone to help you teach yoga classes for children.
They Don´t Know
WHO KRISHNA IS?
Most of them are not even looking for Krishna. Or, if they have read a couple of Yoga books, they might know about Krishna in a different way than us. You can start by saying that He is a spiritual Being to whom they can offer their love.
Regarding Yoga and Bhakti
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE LOVED
A lot of people that practice yoga, started either because it is good physical exercise or they are so stressed in their lives that they are trying to change, and they have heard that yoga can give them relief.
if you will be just who you are
PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED BY YOU
They will ask you questions if they see that you are genuinely happy, genuinely who you are and who you say you are. If people come regularly, they are looking for a teacher who they can resonate with on a much deeper level than just with physical practice, and, if they see that you are genuine, this can be a strong basis for a productive relationship.
A lot of people will resonate with it naturally.
DEVOTION IN YOGA PRACTITIONERS
Thes are people who are trying to be nice to the world, spread kindness, spread some love. So, bringing the aspect of bhakti into it is perfect for the yogis because it involves giving more, is it deeper and aligns with what they already want to do.
Some topics you can develop
FOLLOWING THE 8 STEPS OF PATANJALI
through Bhakti Yoga, are
1. HEALTHY LIFE (YAMA)
2. PURE HABITS (NIYAMA)
3. PEACEFUL BODY THROUGH JAPA AND BHAJANS (ASANA)
4.PROPER BREATHING THROUGH CHANTING AND DANCING (PRANAYAMA)
5. CONTROLLING THE SENSES WITH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE (PRATYAHARA)
6. FIXING THE MIND WITH GOOD SADHANA (DHARANA)
7. INTENSE MEDITATION IN THE COMPANY OF DEVOTEES (DHYANA)
8. REACHING THE ECSTASY BY THE MERCY OF GURU & GAURANGA (SAMADHI)
TOPICS YOU CAN DEVELOP
for meditation and yoga, following the 8 Steps of Patanjali, through Bhakti Yoga, are
SATTVIK LIFE
Values of Sattva Guna Lifestyle.
Sattvik attitudes towards life, way of living, philosophy of the soul
1. HEALTHY LIFE (YAMA): how to avoid rajas and tamas.
2. PURE HABITS (NIYAMA): sattvik and positive things to do every day.
CONTROL OF ENERGY
Yoga Practices in Devotional Mood
As Hanumat Presaka Swami says: “The benefits of asana and pranayama occur immediately while singing and dancing”.
3. PEACEFUL BODY AND MIND (ASANA): chanting japa while sitting in a lotus asana
4. PROPER BREATHING THROUGH KIRTAN (PRANAYAMA): breathing + the taste of kirtan, singing and dancing
5. CONTROLLING THE SENSES WITH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE (PRATYAHARA): arcana, prasadam: How to engage other senses
MEDITATION AND SAMADHI
Go deeper in how to understand Bhakti Yoga
6. FIXING THE MIND WITH GOOD SADHANA (DHARANA): explain the potency of a morning program
7. INTENSE MEDITATION IN THE COMPANY OF DEVOTEES (DHYANA): teach how sharing time with other bhakti yogis can help them in better and longer japa, bhajan, learning, practicing and prayer.
8. REACHING THE ECSTASY BY THE MERCY OF GURU & GAURANGA (SAMADHI): Introduce them to the topic of Nama – Rupa – Guna – Lila, and how to understand and connect with them through Parampara.