Why many yoga teachers aren’t taught well enough about the human body

Yoga is a vast field of knowledge. 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTCs) and even the 500 hour TTCs are not enough to teach all there is to know. In many cases, the teachers of the TTCs are not anatomy experts. Even if the anatomy section in the TTC is taught by an experienced physician, many times he or she is not a yogi and does not adapt the anatomical knowledge well enough to the yoga practice.

And, of course, there is the evasive problem of alignment…

The evasive problem of alignment

Alignment is really important in yoga. It’s important to learn it, teach it and, of course, implement it.

The problem is that although many teachers feel that encouraging students to align according to a set of alignment cues promises them an injury-free class, alignment cues can actually be harmful.

For example, did you know:

“Open your chest” can cause a compression in the spinal column?
“Pull your shoulders down” can cause injuries in the shoulders, neck and upper back?

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About Oren

Oren Dotan, D.O, is an experienced osteopath specializing in yoga injuries. Being a dedicated yogi for over 15 years, Oren has lived in yogic communities and treated hundreds of cases of yoga injuries.

Throughout the years, he has developed a deep understanding as to why yoga injuries happen and how to prevent them. In this course, he integrates his vast anatomical knowledge with his diverse clinical and yogic experience, passing this precious combination onto yoga teachers who want to take their skills to the next level.

Check out this segment from the from the BBC reality show, The Retreat, in which Oren treats patients with various health issues:

When he is not teaching and practicing yoga, Oren also teaches osteopathy worldwide and at the Israeli Institute of Osteopathy.

"Ask any physical practitioner that treats yogis and you will hear the same thing: People get injured in yoga – a lot. As an osteopath who has lived in yogic communities in Thailand and India for the last 8 years, I have treated hundreds of patients that suffered from yoga injuries. It’s very sad to see how experienced yogis and even yoga teachers, don’t know enough about their own bodies to keep themselves safe. I have created Yoga, Anatomy & Alignment Course with a wish to help this change"

- Oren Dotan