The Student Charter
How does a yoga class unfold?
Preferably following a private first class, students join a group. Personal evolution is thus enhanced through contact with the teacher and with the fellow-participants. All forms of competition are banned. The lesson consists of a series of yoga postures interspersed with relaxation time. The teacher determines the postural series based on pedagogical and other factors, and taking into account the physical aptitudes of the group.
What is hatha-yoga?
Hatha-yoga is one of the paths of yoga, a means to serenity which originated in India thousands of years ago. The technique outlined in this document associates postures and breathing techniques in accordance with the teaching method developed by Eva Ruchpaul, who was the first woman to have conceived a pedagogical structure for the teaching of yoga.
Who can practise?
Yoga is suitable for any adult wishing to develop peace of mind and at the same time tone the body. There is no age limit for taking up this practice, once adolescence has passed. Those who are undergoing medical treatment should obtain advice from a medical practitioner.
A yoga lesson can be described as follows:
I – Postures
Preparatory postures
Preparations that aim to loosen up the major joints (back, shoulders and hips).
Postures using breath suspension
Some postures are held using breath suspension either after inhaling or after exhaling.
Postures using constant breathing
Regardless of the breathing used, each posture is practised only once.
II – Breathing
a – Recuperation time between postures
Seated or lying, the yoga student observes all the incoming sensations in a state of neutrality, before tuning in to the natural rhythm of his/her breathing. To conclude the respite period, a complete breath is performed. This breath is characterized by two breath retentions, the first following the inhalation ; the second following the exhalation.
b – At the end of the lesson
Alternate nostril breathing, first slowly, then more rapidly. Savour a moment of tranquility.
How often?
– Once a week,
– A lesson lasts between an hour and an hour and a half.
Where?
In a room appropriately ventilated and heated, either carpeted or with individual exercise mats.
Hatha-yoga … with whom should I practise?
Choose a qualified, certified teacher who has been trained to teach yoga by the Eva Ruchpaul Institute, and who has followed a course of study extending over three years. This course includes studies of Anatomy, Psychophysiology and Pedagogy, as well as the practice and theory of hatha-yoga.
Eva Ruchpaul teachers are expected to continue their personal evolution through regular yoga practice and attendance at yoga seminars to enrich and update their knowledge. The teacher is required to respect the ideas, opinions and religions of his/her students, and should teach in silence, speaking only to give the instructions needed to carry out a given posture and/or a given breathing technique.
Advices for students
Advices
- take a lesson regularly once a week
- have irreprochable personal hygiene
- opt for clothing reserved specifically for the yoga class (clean, comfortable and protective, preferably in wool or cotton)
- always drink a glass of water after the class, as yoga facilitates elimination
What to avoid
- avoid taking more than one class per week
- Avoid practising alone (you run the risk of taking up the posture wrongly and of hurting yourself)
- Avoid repeating the same posture several times in a row
- Avoid using perfume before a class
Hatha-yoga…
What it cannot bring you…
- The suppleness of an acrobat
- eternal youth
- invulnerability
- perfection
- superiority
Hatha-yoga…
What it can bring you…
- mental stamina
- physical vigour
- autonomy in your life choices
- an appetite for life
- self knowledge, without judgement
- slow yet regular progress
- pleasure in breathing
What about spirituality ? Who can define it ?
This hatha-yoga technique cultivates attention to the body and to breathing. It allows the exploration of inner silence.
It is up to each person to orient his/her quest according to personal needs and desires.