There’s no denying that yoga is both a physical and mental practice. When people practice yoga, they can experience all sorts of emotions and that may come out in various ways. In this episode, Dr. Lauren Tober and I discuss various scenarios that may come up in your classes and look at them through the lens of mental health, sharing emotions and human behavior. These topics are not often discussed but they can provide an important foundation for yoga teachers when teaching classes. 

 

In this episode, Dr. Tober breaks down the components of mental health into 6 pillars, which are further explored in her book ( link below ). Highlights include the ethics of being a yoga teacher and what’s within our professional scope of practice as well as how yoga can be helpful from a therapeutic perspective. We discuss what it means to create a “safe space” for our students, how to teach a class when a student is doing their own practice ( outside of what you’re teaching ) and other scenarios that may arise. 

 

More about Dr. Lauren Tober:

 

Dr Lauren Tober is a Clinical Psychologist, Senior Yoga Teacher and Author based in Mullumbimby, Australia. With a deep curiosity in health, healing, happiness and awakening, Lauren integrates the best of western psychology with ancient yogic wisdom, both on and off the mat.

Lauren is the founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute and Mental Health Aware Yoga, the author of  Mental Health Aware Yoga Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, host of the A Grateful Life Podcast and loves teaching yoga teachers about mental health, and health professionals about yoga.

Her work is soulful without being new-agey.  It’s evidence-based, without being clinical.  It’s authentic, heartfelt and life-changing.

I'll attach a couple of photos you're welcome to use to promote the episode, as well as a copy of my new book - Mental Health Aware Yoga Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers.

 

People can also download the first chapter of my book for free at www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book.

 

 

For more about Karen Fabian, visit www.barebonesyoga,.com

 

For more about how you can learn anatomy for yoga, in an easy step by step way, check out The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator Program: 

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator