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  1. It was an emotional Sunday as tears were shed at the end of the course that for 12 months had become a part of monthly life.  It was great to see new opportunities unfolding or on the horizon for each teacher and interesting to see how individualised their aspirations were.

    Barry talked about each student and their journey on the course highlighting their individual strengths and unique aspects that they were bringing to their teaching and tears were in evidence.

    All agreed that they had not only beome great yoga teachers but had also gone through a process of personal development and felt significantly different from when the started the course.

    The surprise was then turned on Barry as he was given a gift from the group that was verrrry well wrapped.

    Certificated were presented then everyone was given a ganesha ornament and script to commemorate their success and that might be a permentant reminder of their success.  here are the pics:

    yoga course presnetation 2015 007The calm before the storm

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    Getting tucked in.

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    Barry's summing up brings an odd little trickle

    yoga course presnetation 2015 012 yoga course presnetation 2015 013

    yoga course presnetation 2015 014 yoga course presnetation 2015 015

    presenting the certificates

    yoga course presnetation 2015 016 yoga course presnetation 2015 020

    yoga course presnetation 2015 021 yoga course presnetation 2015 019

    yoga course presnetation 2015 023

  2. For me, they're so bad that they make you laugh.  Laughing brings a little light and cheer into your life so go ahead read them and enjoy them add some and comment. Don't worry, it's magic to be weird.  Here we go:-

    Answers below but not necessarily in order!!!

    I bought my husband a wooden leg for Christmas - it wasn't his main present just a Stocking Filler haha

    Why does Father Christmas not come down the chimney any more?

    What is a Pelicans favourite TV show? 

    Where do the relay teams go for their training?

    What did Adam say to eve the day before Christmas?

    Why did Santa's helper go to the doctor?

    Santa: What's the terrible noise outside?

    Answers

    The Bill haha

    Because he has Claustrophobia haha

    Andover haha

    Mrs Claus: It's rain dear (say it out loud) haha

    Because he had low elf-esteem haha

    It's Christmas Eve haha

     

  3. training outside

    Taking advantage of the sunshine with a bit of theory outside.

    When yoga teacher trainees start to teach their peer groups they often become nervous that they will fail to get it right. They want to teach a correct flow or sequence; they want to give the correct instructions; they want to teach with the right balance of tone and volume; they want to impart just the right amount of information; they want to teach within the timeframe they have set for themselves and above all they want to teach each asana safely. When cultivating their teaching style they naturally want to get all these things right and above all do it without their students necessarily noticing that they are doing it. This is because most people dont really have these things in mind when they book a class.

    While people who attend a yoga class unconsciously want knowledge, good instruction and even inspiration from their teachers, when they book a class they are really booking an experience. Most students don't want to think too much when they are in a yoga class rather they want to be conducted or navigated through a pleasant experience leaving them feeling calm, relaxed, invigorated, energized or all of these things. They want to walk out of that yoga room feeling more in tune and harmony with their physical, mental and emotional bodies that they did when they walked in.

    When trainees are learning to teach yoga and they are faced with this task they are daunted and think they will never get it.

    They discover that learning the methodology and techniqes mentioned above can be challenging and nerves and lack of confidence kick in.

    It is at this time that trainees do well to remember that at least half the skill in teaching others is gained from their own deepening practice. When trainees are submerged and absorbed into their own deep asana and pranayama practice they know they can have a very profound experience and it is this experience that they can translate on to their students in their teaching.

    It was fascinating how it came out this month during the training weekend at the Mind and Body Studio.

    This particular weekend had to be reduced to one day for various reasons and most of that day was devoted to trainees teaching a flow of some 45-50 minutes to their peer group. They all delivered a flow that they had been working on themselves for a few weeks choosing asanas for whatever personal reasons they had that month.

    I had made a particular point of mentioning last month their lack of reference to safety in their flows and this was picked up by all students who did well to incorporate safety into their instructions often deftly icluded thus keeping their flows running smoothly.

    The timing was good and while there were some things that could be improved upon with experience such as tripping over their words in instruction occasionally; showing a little nervousness; inaccuracies with breath instruction; a little unfriendly at times with tone and communication or monotone; too shorter closing relaxation etc what was beginning to shine through was a hint of them teaching from the growing depth of their own practice. They were beginning to give their peer group a better experience than in pevious months. Even the most nervous of out trainees despite some shakiness and the occasional tremble in the voice demostrated detail of instruction that was almost inspiring and in defiance of her nerves.

    Another whose playful and laid back personality may sometimes be interpreted as flippant used that playfullness to inspire her flow to full advantage making it an entertaining experience.

    Yet another gave us a well orchestrated energizing flow that left us feeling strong and invigorated with almost perfect timing on instruction handled well in that she kept up the dialogue while demonstrating a collection of often respiratory challenging asanas.

    Another student took us through a well sequenced flow that led us perfectly to an appropriate conclusion and even provided interesting asana variations and modefications some of which were new to me.

    What this also demonstrated was that each students own personality and style was beginning to peep through into their teaching

    Part of the philosophy of the Teacher Training at the Mind and Body Studio in Bury is to teach from ones own deepening learning and practice and students on the course are beginning to reveal this skill half way through the course.

    Any yoga teacher trainee graduate worth their salt does not want to merely call off postures to a class of students. All yoga teachers need technique knowledge and methodology; a sense of safety; good communication and instructional skills and empathy with student learning but their strength in teaching will more than likely come form the depths of their own deepening learning and practice that can then translate a more profound experience to their students.

    Barry Todd (HathaYogaMan)

  4. It's depressing when you hear people dismissing the tough life that some children experience and saying 'Kids can cope with anything'. Yes they can but that doesn't mean that they are okay by it. The tough things that they have to deal with at an early age leave them with unseen scars that change the potential of their lives forever. That's why there are so many unfulfilled, sad, worried,anxious and generally people with problems around.
    So look after your kids. Treat them with respect and don't just shout at them nurture them into adulthood so that you can have the best chance to watch them live fulfilled and peaceful lives.
    PLEASE SHARE and let's try to make a difference for the future generations. if it just makes one parent stop and think before they shout maybe we have made that difference.
    Photo: It's depressing when you hear people dismissing the tough life that some children experience and saying 'Kids can cope with anything'.  Yes they can but that doesn't mean that they are okay by it.  The tough things that they have to deal with at an early age leave them with unseen scars that change the potential of their lives forever.  That's why there are so many unfulfilled, sad, worried,anxious and generally people with problems around.
So look after your kids.  Treat them with respect and don't just shout at them nurture them into adulthood so that you can have the best chance to  watch them live fulfilled and peaceful lives.
PLEASE SHARE  and let's try to make a difference for the future generations.  if it just makes one parent stop and think before they shout maybe we have made that difference.
  5. New course starting September!

    In order to be a good clinical hypnotherapist (or therapist) you have to have a deep understanding of yourself so that you can begin to understand others.

    It is very different from many other professions where you have to have a skill in delivery of procedures and methods.

    In hypnotherapy the skills are secondary. Primary is knowing how to find the problem that needs addressing. That takes a lot of awareness and an ability to be humble enough to know that you can only go as far as your personal filters let you.

    A good training course would introduce you to yourself in a new light that for some could be a high obstacle to climb.

    But the only way to be really effective is to keep climbing your own walls of enlightenment.
    See my new training course starting in September http://www.mindandbodybury.co.uk/hypnotherapytraining.html
    — at Mind & Body Clinical Hypnotherapy Training, Bolton Street, Bury
    Photo: New course starting September!

In order to be a good clinical hypnotherapist (or therapist) you have to have a deep understanding of yourself so that you can begin to understand others.

It is very different from many other professions where you have to have a skill in delivery of procedures and methods.  

In hypnotherapy the skills are secondary.  Primary is knowing how to find the problem that needs addressing.  That takes a lot of awareness and an ability to be humble enough to know that you can only go as far as your personal filters let you.

A good training course would introduce you to yourself in a new light that for some could be a high obstacle to climb.

But the only way to be really effective is to keep climbing your own walls of enlightenment.
See my new training course starting in September http://www.mindandbodybury.co.uk/hypnotherapytraining.html
  6. Do you mentally ramble? yes you do!!
    Do you like walking? Have you noticed how rights of way are often getting blocked by the farmer who owns the land?

    When we walk across a farmers land, using our right of way, he usually doesn't even know we are there. Yet he always knows we have been there. We have left footprints in the field creating a pathway that becomes an embedded route across or round the field.

    We just get used to following the pathways.

    How often do you stop to think about what you are/have been thinking? Thoughts seem to have the habit of taking a ramble through our minds and consciously like the farmer we are often oblivious but subconsciously we are fully aware and receptive to those rambling thoughts. As they become embedded and strengthened they have an impact on the way we consciously think.

    Try paying more attention to the rambling thoughts and you may begin to understand your conscious thoughts a little more.
    Photo: Do you mentally ramble?  yes you do!!
Do you like walking? Have you noticed how rights of way are often getting blocked by the farmer who owns the land?

When we walk across a farmers land, using our right of way, he usually doesn't even know we are there.  Yet he always knows we have been there.  We have left footprints in the field creating a pathway that becomes an embedded route across or round the field.  

We just get used to following the pathways.

How often do you stop to think about what you are/have been thinking?  Thoughts seem to have the habit of taking a ramble through our minds and consciously like the farmer we are often oblivious but subconsciously we are fully aware and receptive to those rambling thoughts.  As they become embedded and strengthened they have an impact on the way we consciously think.

Try paying more attention to the rambling thoughts and you may begin to understand your  conscious thoughts a little more.