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半個月前在瑜珈刊物部落格看見〈7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Yoga Teacher Training.〉一文，文中討論的雖然是「成為瑜珈老師之前，7個可以自問的前提」，我仍然覺得這7個問題足以用來檢視每一次「我們即將擔任起某個身份」時，我們夠格了嗎？準備好了嗎？


於是花了一些時間翻譯完全文，與大家分享－－


You’re loving yoga and how it makes you feel.
你超愛瑜珈，以及瑜珈帶給你的感受。


You’re loving going to class and being part of a yoga community.
你很喜歡上瑜珈課，並且很享受成為瑜珈社群的一份子。


You’re loving the other people you’re meeting and how open and loving and cool they are.
你喜愛那些你在瑜珈社群中遇見的人們，他們是如此的開放、有愛，而且他們超酷。


You especially admire and respect the cool, calm and collected yoga teacher spreading all the good vibes at the front of the room.
你特別景仰在教室前面散發好能量的瑜珈老師，他們超酷、冷靜又沈穩。


A thought arises.Teaching yoga would be fun.
於是一個新想法來了：教瑜珈想必很有趣！


The idea develops.I’d love to teach yoga.
新想法發展成一個點子：我想要教瑜珈！


You start looking up teacher training courses online.
你開始上網搜尋師資養成班資訊。


Stop right there.
在這裡等一下！


Before you go any further and before you commit money and time to a yoga teacher training course, here are the seven best questions to ask first and the answers you’re looking for.
在你進一步為你決定報名的瑜珈師資養成課程投注更多的時間和金錢之前，有7個好問題值得你先仔細想想。


Questions to ask yourself before signing up for Yoga Teacher Training:
以下是參加師資養成訓練之前，你可以試著問自己的問題：


1. Do you have a consistent, committed home yoga practice?
1. 你能在家中也持續的、堅定的進行自我練習嗎？


What’s the difference between a yoga student and a yogi?One goes to classes and the other has a home yoga practice.
「瑜珈課學生」和「瑜珈師」的差別在哪？他們一個會去上瑜珈課，另一個則會在家中進行自我練習。


Who teaches yoga—the yoga student or the yogi?The yogi.
誰教瑜珈呢？「瑜珈課學生」還是「瑜珈師」？是瑜珈師。


If you want to teach yoga, first you need to develop a consistent, committed home yoga practice.
如果你想要成為瑜珈教師的話，至少你得發展出持續而堅定的自我練習規律。


If you’re still not practicing yoga at home, by yourself, with no DVD or audio recording, you’re not ready to teach yoga.
如果你沒有能力在沒有DVD、沒有錄音檔引導的前提下自行練習的話，你或許還沒準備好教授瑜珈。


If you’re not ready to teach yoga, now is not the time to do a yoga teacher training. (Unless you want to use the training to deepen your own practice and have no intention of teaching.)
目前不是你教瑜珈的最佳時機的話，也就不是你參與師資養成訓練的時機（除非你把師資養成訓練課程視為深化自己學習的輔助之力，你完全沒有教學的企圖心。）


Before you sign up for training, before you put down a deposit, before you even research on the internet, commit to a home yoga practice.
在你上網搜尋師資訓練資訊、投入時間和金錢之前，承諾自己會在家中自行練習瑜珈吧！


In an ideal world, our yoga teachers would have practiced at home by themselves for years before they started teaching.
理想的情況下，一個老師在開始教學之前，至少要累積數年的自我練習。


Now, a minimum of six months will give you a strong foundation for beginning to develop as a yogi.
現在，至少要有持續6個月的自我練習，才能為你建立成為一個瑜珈師的堅實基礎。


This home yoga practice is what sustains you as a teacher and it’s where you draw from in order to teach.
在自我練習中，你會建立起教學的基礎；自我練習中得到的一切，會支撐起你整個教學的能力。


Correct answer to #1: Yes.
第一題：「你能在家中也持續的、堅定的進行練習嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


2. Have you found a style of yoga, or a teacher you love?
2. 你找到了一個你深愛的瑜珈派別或瑜珈老師嗎？


The answer to this question will spring out of the home practice you already have (right?).
這問題的答案，照理來說，會自然的從你已養成的規律自我練習中湧現出來，對吧？


What do you practice at home? How to you practice at home? If you’re an Astangi yogi, it’s clear. If you’re an Iyengar yogi, it’s also clear. Maybe you’re drawn to a more integrated lineage like Satyananda.
你的自我練習都練習些什麼呢？你都如何進行你的自我練習呢？如果你是個八支串連瑜珈的練習者，那很明顯；如果你是個艾氏瑜珈的練習者，那也很明顯。或許你更受集大成的整合練習流派吸引，例如施化難陀。


Or perhaps you’ve studied with one of the myriad of modern teachers who draw on a number of influences to craft their own particular style of yoga, like Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest or Sean Corne.
或者你跟隨各種五花八門的現代教師，他們融合了某些練習風格，並自創出自己的練習方式，例如Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest 或 Sean Corne。


Regardless, until you find the yoga path that works for you, how can you know what to study, what to practice and therefore what to teach?
除非你在自我練習中，找到某一種瑜珈的練習途徑，經過你的練習來驗證，你親身確認這個練習方式真的有用。不然，你怎麼會知道你要讀些什麼？你要練些什麼？你要教些什麼？


It’s even possible that you’re not a Hatha Yoga teacher and are a Bhakti devotee, or even a Jñāna yogi. If you don’t know, explore.
你甚至有可能不是哈達瑜珈的教學者，你是奉愛瑜珈（註一）的習修者、甚至是個智慧瑜珈（註二）的習修者……如果你不知道，去探索。


Correct answer to #2: Yes.
第二題：「你找到了一個你深愛的瑜珈派別或瑜珈老師嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


3. Have there been independent, external clues drawing you to a teacher’s path?
3. 有任何外來的獨立線索，引導你成為瑜珈教師嗎？


It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. It could also be said that when the teacher is ready, the students appear.
俗話說：「當學生準備好，老師就會出現」。反過來也可以說「老師準備好了，學生就會出現」。


A clear clue that a teacher’s path is opening up before you is when for whatever reason, you find yourself teaching a yoga class.
不管是什麼理由，你發現你自己正被推向教課的位置，這就是足以成為瑜珈教師的明晰線索。


Maybe the teacher didn’t show up, maybe the teacher asked you to step in and cover him, maybe friends of yours asked you to take them through a short practice.
也許某一堂課的老師剛好沒來、也許有其他老師請你為他代課、也許你的好友們請你帶領他們進行一個短期的瑜珈練習……


Regardless, even though you’ve got no yoga teacher training, opportunities to teach keep arising in your life.
就算你沒有接受過任何瑜珈師資訓練課程，教課的機會仍然一直在你的生活中冒出來。


Other clues you’re ready to teach are teachers suggesting your look at yoga teacher training.
其他的線索包含了你被其他瑜珈教師建議可以開始搜尋師資訓練的資訊。


If you’ve been working with the same teacher for a few years, they may be able to see you’re teacher material.
如果你一直跟隨同一個老師練習數年，他們很可能已經看見了你足以作為瑜珈教師的天賦。


Correct answer to #3: Yes.
第三題：「有任何外來的獨立線索，引導你成為瑜珈教師嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


4. Are the resources for attending a yoga teacher training program lining up for you?
4. 有足夠的資源支持你去參加瑜珈師資養成課程嗎？


It takes time, money and support to attend a yoga teacher training program, especially if you have family commitments.
瑜珈教師的養成需要投資時間、金錢，以及身邊的人的支持，特別是家人的支持。


You may desperately want to go to a training, but if you don’t have the money in the bank to make it happen, or the time available, it might not be the right time.
你或許打從心底強烈渴望參與培訓，但是你的銀行戶頭如果沒有足夠的資金讓你的渴望成真，或者你真的沒時間，那麼……這時候真的不是最好的培訓時機。


It could be tempting to borrow the money for a training, but given that yoga teachers (in general) struggle to make a living wage, starting a yoga teacher career already in debt is not a wise move.
「借錢去上課」聽起來很誘人，但一般來說，你的瑜珈教學事業在最一開始還是會有個掙扎跟辛苦的起頭。在你的瑜珈事業一開始的時候就揹債，並不是一個明智的抉擇。


Better to work hard and save the cash first, while continuing to develop your own home yoga practice. Teaching yoga will always be there. The best teachers are those who have had years and decades of practice.
比較好的選擇是先認真工作、存錢，並持續你的自我練習。教瑜珈的機會永遠都會在啊！最好的瑜珈教師，是那些堅定的花了許多年自我練習的瑜珈師。


Even if you don’t train until you’re 50, you’ve still got 30 or 40 years or teaching in front of you.
就算你50歲才接受師資培訓，你還是可以教瑜珈教個30-40年的。


It’s important to have the time to train properly too. Don’t skimp on training because you can only spare two weeks looking for the shortest yoga teacher training available.
好好的、穩紮穩打的訓練是很重要的，不要因為你只能空出兩週，就找了一個能配合你超短訓練時間的吝嗇課程。


Be honest and wait until you can devote the necessary time to a great training.
誠實和耐心是美德，為你的美好訓練投入足夠而必需的時間吧！


Correct answer to #4: Yes.
第四題：「有足夠的資源支持你去參加瑜珈師資養成課程嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


Now you’re got a solid home yoga practice, you’re in love with a particular style or teacher, there’s plenty of external clues that a teacher’s path is opening up before you and the necessary resources of time, money and support are all lined up, it’s time to check out yoga teacher training programs.
現在，你有一個堅實的自我練習規律，你有一個你喜愛的瑜伽流派或你樂於跟隨的宗師，你還有一大堆明示你可以當個於家老師的線索，以及充沛的時間、金錢等等資源，支持你去報名一個瑜伽師資培訓的課程。是時候來檢視一下你的瑜伽師資培訓課程的幾個條件了。


Here’s what to look for. Yoga-Teacher-Training-FloridaQuestions to ask of Yoga Teacher Training Programs:
以下是幾個你可以檢視一個瑜伽師資培訓課程的項目：


5. Is the program well-respected and reputable?
5. 這個師培課程是深具信譽、而且備受尊重的嗎？


Don’t rely on the rubber stamp of approval from others to determine the quality of a program. Just because a program has a certificate doesn’t mean it’s great.
不要為了某一門課程能夠發一張蓋了橡皮印章的證書給你，就去參加那門課程，有證書根本代表不了什麼。


Even if the program is not certified, it could be well-respected and thorough.
有的師培課程不發證書、沒有任何紙面認證可以開給你，但它就是極具信譽且備受推崇。


If it’s important to you to have a recognized qualification, go for a program that offers that. If you’re most interested in the actual quality of the training, dig deeper and ask more questions.
如果你需要一張制式的認證，那麼你可以參加附了證書的培訓課程；如果你對於上課品質和課程所提供的紮實訓練更感興趣的話，多搜尋些資料、多詢問與該課程相關的問題。


How long has the program been established? Who are the senior teachers? How many people have been through the training? Find someone who’s done the training and ask them about it.
這個培訓課存在多久了？這門培訓課的資深教師是哪一位？有多少人取得了這個培訓的認證？去找曾經拿過這門培訓課認證的人們談談。


Correct answer to #5: Yes.
第五題：「這個師培課程是深具信譽、而且備受尊重的嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


6. Will I receive a thorough grounding in all aspects related to yoga teaching?
6. 我會接收到徹底、實際且各方面兼備的瑜伽教學資訊嗎？


There is far more to training a yoga teacher then teaching them the correct alignment for a yoga posture.
訓練一位瑜伽教師，絕對不只是讓一個教師能夠正確的把一個動作教授出去而已。


Besides teachings in asana, pranayama and meditation, you want a program that covers yoga philosophy to some degree including mention of concepts like Koshas, Kleshas, Yamas, Niyamas, Nadis and Prana(s).
在體位法的教學之外還有呼吸法、冥想等等，你在師培課程中的學習，要能涵蓋到一定程度的瑜伽哲學，包括能量體、五煩惱根、持戒、精進、氣脈以及生命能的概念。


Ideally, yogic texts including Patanjali’s Sutras will at least be referenced.
理想狀況底下，還要能引用一些瑜伽經典，例如帕坦加利的瑜伽經。


The best program will support you in connecting to your own inner yoga teacher (without that, you can’t teach). It should touch on accessing intuition and wisdom, with some discernment thrown in there as well.
最好的瑜伽師培課程將會支持你連結你內在的瑜伽老師（沒有內在的教師，你也沒法教瑜伽）。那是一個透過直覺與內在智慧接觸、並向內自我覺察和觀照的過程。


You also want a yoga teacher training program that offers some guidance on the business of teaching yoga, or at least the ethics of teaching yoga.
一個好的瑜伽師培課程也會提供你具體在教學市場中可以確實被實踐的程序指南，或至少，該提供你教學過程中應當被遵循的道德原則。


Correct answer to #6: Yes.
第六題：「我會接收到徹底、實際且各方面兼備的瑜伽教學資訊嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


7. Does the program offer ongoing support and reasonable access to senior teachers?
7. 這個訓練課程可以持續的提供支持，以及在合理的範圍內，讓學生能夠繼續請教資深教師嗎？


This is important! Attending an intense month-long yoga teacher training can blast your psyche wide open.
這非常的重要！參加一個長達一個月的密集瑜珈師資養成訓練課，將會以非常激烈的方式開啟、擴展你的精神與心智。


If you’re then shipped off back to the regular world with no ongoing support available, or access to the teachers who helped blow you wide open, you could end up in a terrible state.
如果你回歸到日常生活中，卻得不到後續的支持、或者無法將日常生活中遇見的疑惑，拿去詢問開啟了你的精神與心智的資深教師的話，你可能會卡在一個不上不下的困惑狀態中。


Yoga is a powerful practice. Yoga in a group situation; day after day after day it is even more powerful.
瑜珈是一個極具威力的修行方式，一天一天的累積下來，威力會加成。


Any yoga teacher program that does not acknowledge this power and help students deal with any potential fallout is woefully negligent.
任何瑜珈師資培訓課程小看了瑜珈練習帶來的威力，輕忽了後續對學生的支持與帶領，將會導致可悲的後果。


This is even more important if you’ve experienced any deep trauma in your life which you may or may not have yet dealt with. Teacher training can bring it all up.
假如你曾經在你的生命中經驗深刻的創傷，累進的瑜珈練習可能會開啟那些你不一定準備好面對或處理的創傷。瑜珈師培課會喚醒那些你曾有的舊傷。


Before you sign up for the training, make sure you ask after the training, can I e-mail my teacher questions that arise about my practice?
在你參加一個師培課之前，問問提供課程的單位：「我可以在師培課後，透過電子郵件詢問老師關於瑜珈練習的問題嗎？」


Correct answer to #7: Yes.
第七題：「這個訓練課程可以持續的提供支持，以及在合理的範圍內，讓學生能夠繼續請教資深教師嗎？」，要能答得出「是」。


If you read through those seven questions and answered yes for them all, congratulations, you’re ready to train as a yoga teacher and you’ve found the right yoga teacher training program to sign up for.
如果你讀完以上7個問題，每一個問題你的答案都是「是」，恭喜你！你已經準備好要被培訓為一個瑜珈教師，而且你也找到了一個很棒的瑜珈師資培訓課程。


If you got no for some questions, you need to take some more time before committing to training. It doesn’t mean you won’t become a yoga teacher, it’s just that good things take time. Develop that home practice. Find that style you love. See what happens from there.
假如有一些問題你尚且無法堅定的回答「是」，那麼你需要在參與師培課之前，再為自己多花些時間。這不代表你當不上瑜珈教師，只是好東西需要時間醞釀－－發展你的自我練習、找到你所愛的瑜珈流派，然後觀察，會有什麼事情發生在這過程中。


Laying a strong foundation before you even start yoga teacher training will only stand you in good steed over the long-term. And it could potentially save you thousands of dollars because you’ll choose the right yoga teacher training program for you.
路遙知馬力，你願意在你的瑜珈師培課開始之前奠定堅持的教學基礎的話，實力不會被埋沒的。而且願意自己奠定基礎、仔細挑選師培課程，還能為你節省下數千美元的學費。


註一（取自維基百科）：Bhakti Yoga，又稱「虔信瑜伽」，亦可稱爲「奉愛瑜伽」、「信瑜伽」。追求超越情緒、理性純善的道之愛，以冥想、唱誦、禮拜等嚴謹的宗教生活態度以及積極行善來達成。


註二（取自維基百科）：Jnana Yoga，又稱「知識瑜伽」。以理性的思維、邏輯思辯以探求真理的瑜伽。用印度人的觀點來看，中國的老子、莊子等可以視為智慧瑜伽修行者。