Author Articles: Nayaswami Gyandev

Teaching Yoga to Seniors & People with Osteoporosis

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Nayaswami Gyandev

A Report from the Trenches by Susan Hayes, E-RYT 500, Mountain Top Yoga, Auburn, CA For fifteen years, I’ve been teaching yoga. In December of 2012, I did something that changed the direction of my yoga teaching in a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Yoga Therapist Training | Tagged | 14 Comments

Spiritual Lessons from Wild Indian Drivers

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Nayaswami Gyandev

I recently visited India—a country that can give the Western mind a firm shaking. One thing that shakes many visitors is the chaotic traffic. Drivers might do anything at any time: pull in front of you without looking, drive the … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual Travel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Teaching the Art of Discovery – Part 1

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Does this feel familiar?—You’ve been teaching a group of students for a while, and you’re seeing signs that they’re bored with the “same old poses.” One or two of them might even have said so, or lobbied for more advanced … Continue reading →

Posted in Yoga Teacher Training | Tagged | 5 Comments

Insights from a Master Teacher

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Swami Kriyananda, the founder of Ananda and of Ananda Yoga, was a wellspring of wisdom and inspiration for teachers of any subject. His teaching style balanced deep insights with common sense, and inspiration with practicality—all delivered with delightful humor. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Yoga Teacher Training | Tagged | 8 Comments

Level 1 AYTT Changes

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Here is a summary of what’s brand new in Level 1 Ananda Yoga Teacher Training for 2013:   Asanas We wanted to inject more variety into the selection of asanas. We already had 31 asanas and didn’t think that trainees … Continue reading →

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Ananda Yoga Goes to the Movies

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Nayaswami Gyandev

By now you may have heard about the Ananda movie, “Finding Happiness.” Filming concluded in October 2012, and post-production is nearly complete. Those who have seen the “director’s cut” say that it’s fabulous. The grand premiere is at Ananda Village … Continue reading →

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Playing the Pauses

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Arthur Schnabel, the famous pianist, once said: “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes — ah, that is where the art resides.” It’s the same in Hatha Yoga: Sure, you want to … Continue reading →

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Teaching the Art of Discovery – Part 3: Discovery via Challenges

Posted on March 21, 2004 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Continued from Teaching the Art of Discovery Part 2 As we go deeper into this series, I now want to offer some broader thoughts about how to refresh your approach to teaching, make your classes more magnetic and rewarding for … Continue reading →

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Teaching the Art of Discovery – Part 2: Teaching More-Advanced Asanas

Posted on October 1, 2003 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Continued from Teaching the Art of Discovery Part 1 . Continuing with the topic of how to keep your classes fresh and interesting—to nurture your students’ spirit of discovery rather than merely teaching a constant stream of new poses—I’ll now … Continue reading →

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Keepin’ It Simple

Posted on October 1, 2002 by Nayaswami Gyandev

Earlier this year, I received an e-mail from a relatively new AYTT grad who had just begun teaching Ananda Yoga. In part of the message, this person wrote, “I don’t know what in the world ever made me think that … Continue reading →

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