Meet Oxfordshire Yoga Teacher Amanda Edlin

Jan 13th, 2011 | By Richard MacKenzie | Category: Meet The Professionals

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Oxfordshire Yoga Teacher Amanda Edlin

I read some time ago that people who regularly practice yoga have a higher levels of GABA, a rather funky amino acid, that could help you to feel more chilled and less anxious.

Last year, I took an 7 week yoga course and from the get-go I could really feel an amazing difference.

It was really good to catch up with Oxfordshire Yoga Teacher, Amanda Edlin, earlier this week to find out a little more about yoga and what it can do for you.

Here’s what she had to say…

Q.Can you explain what a yoga teacher actually is?

Amanda’s answer…

A yoga teacher is a facilitator, offering support and guidance for students. A teacher guides students through physical asana practise, breathing techniques, meditation and all aspects of yoga. A good yoga teacher understands that everyone is different, with differing capabilities, a variety of goals and reasons for practising yoga. Medical conditions and an individuals experience are all taken into consideration by a Yoga teacher to ensure safe practice for students. In a class a yoga teacher will allow students to explore different aspects of yoga and help them to extend their practice.

Q.What kind of experience and education do you need to be a yoga teacher?

Amanda’s answer…

In the west there are a number of ways to become an accredited teacher and to gain insurance to teach. The Yoga Alliance, which is an internationally recognised organisation, accredits courses in the UK. They stipulate a minimum of 2 years yoga experience and require references for students to attend courses. The British Wheel of Yoga also offers yoga teacher courses for UK accreditation. Courses vary in length and style from intensive live-in courses to weekends and study over a period of years.

Q.What motivates you to do the job you do?

Amanda’s answer…

Teaching yoga helps to develop others. Yoga is a journey and everyone takes a different path. Encouraging others to grow mentally and physically is very rewarding. It’s wonderful to be able watch students blossom and also to learn from them. Yoga can touch all areas of peoples lives and make a huge difference. Yoga is such a positive activity and so are the results.

Q.What first sparked your interest in helping other?

Amanda’s answer…

Many years ago I suffered with a chronic spinal problem. I couldn’t even lift a kettle without pain. A range of healthcare practitioners over a period of years helped to restore my body back to health. During this time I used the many aspects of yoga to help myself and found it very beneficial. It enabled me to be physically and mentally stronger and better able to meet the challenges of my situation. Most people can use some or all aspects of yoga to benefit themselves. Helping others through teaching was my next step.

Q.What kind of issues would yoga help clients with on a day to day basis?

Amanda’s answer…

Managing stress either at home or in the workplace is a common reason for yoga practise. Using relaxation and visualisation techniques can be useful in overcoming stress and anxiety. Using techniques to calm the mind and improve focus, concentration and improve sleep is also common. Many people also use yoga to improve strength, flexibility & tone and incorporate yoga into their fitness routine. Improving posture is a very noticeable benefit of yoga. So many of us spend so much time sat at computers or in the car and our posture suffers because of it. Other benefits such as improving circulation, stimulating thyroid function, improving digestion, relieving sciatic discomfort, reducing high blood pressure and many more can also be helped. The physical benefits of yoga are more widely known but the mental and emotional benefits are equally important. Yoga can be easily tailored to suit the needs of the individual and change and grow with them.

Q.What’s the science behind your approach?

Amanda’s answer…

As a sports therapist and sport massage practitioner I’m able to bring my knowledge of anatomy and physiology to yoga practice and enable people of all abilities and levels of physical fitness to benefit mentally and physically from classes.

Q.If you could offer one mindfulness tip to our readers, what would it be?

Amanda’s answer…

Be in the moment, totally focused on the now. Whatever you are doing don’t let your mind wander to other things, just focus and concentrate on what you are doing in any moment and get the most from it.

Well, that was Amanda Edlin.

We’re interested in hearing your opinion. Would you consider using a Yoga Teacher like Amanda? You can leave your views and feedback in the comments section below.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Oxfordshire Yoga Teacher, Amanda Edlin, for answering my questions on this interesting subject.

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About Richard MacKenzie

Richard MacKenzie has written 81 articles on Challenge Oxfordshire.

Richard MacKenzie is the founder and editor of Challenge Oxfordshire. He has a passionate interest in the areas of physical fitness and mental health. He lives with his wife and son in Witney.