As I have become more confident in my ability to share my knowledge of Yoga to this Misawa community, I have begun to reflect on the way I instruct and perform in my classes. I have noticed that while the style of yoga I teach is vastly different from my teacher’s. the philosophy that I approach teaching from and the phrases I repeat are inspired by his.
I studied yoga at Nepal Yoga Home in Kathmandu, and my Ashtanga and Iyengar teacher was Ram- aka “Rubber Band Man” if you have seen him in any asana. He taught me devotion, gratefulness, empathy, humbleness, and of course, the more physical aspect of yoga (asana).
While it is difficult to preserve the cultural and philosophical/ spiritual parts of yoga in a gym class environment, I feel Ram would be proud of me for finding a good balance that doesn’t force anyone to practice anything that makes them uncomfortable; like the invitation to chant Om ॐ and the use of certain Sanskrit words that Ram tested me on everyday for a month.
Having the honor to share the knowledge I gained from such a wonderful teacher and the teachers that came before him brings me so much peace and fulfillment. Thank you to this community for supporting my yoga classes and thank you Ram for inspiring me.
- HopeMarie Cosseboom (a student of 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training from Osaka, Japan)
Auto Translated by google Japanese To English:
Mr. Ram told me that I can only speak Japanese.
They kindly guided me through hand gestures and eye contact.
You can safely surrender to challenging poses. He is a very kind and generous person.
I want to do yoga with you again ♡
(Clarification- Since she knows only Japanese and the teacher knows English but not Japanese, teaching relied more on hand gestures, body language, facial expression, and eye contact and less on spoken language. These methods allowed the teacher to convey concepts and instructions effectively without proper verbal communication.)
-Basho Mami (a Yoga teacher, practitioner, manager, from Okayama, Japan)
The first time, I felt a strange fluffy feeling between sleeping and waking up.
The second time, my head was awake, but my body was really asleep and I couldn’t move it. It felt like my body was glued to the floor, and I felt like my body had recovered tremendously.
Was your nose stuffed up?
When you hear a single sound, does your nasal cavity pop open? It felt so good, like there was a big hole inside!
I’m so happy that my nose continues to clear the next day!
I’ve always had a stuffy nose, so I’m glad it’s been a long time since I’ve been going here so often.
I had been out since morning and was probably physically tired, but I felt really energetic the next day!
-Yoshie Yamamoto ( Singing Bowl Healee, Okayama, Japan)
Ram’s classes were my favorite in Nepal. He is very clear with his instructions and offers traditional practice to take place. He gives guidance and assistance with ease. I adore him as a mentor and friend. I would recommend his classes to both beginners and heavily practicing yogis alike.
-Heidi Lang (a student of 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training from Hawai, USA)
Truly wonderful teacher I am now happy to call a friend as well. Ram has helped me become more confident on my path with his style of teaching. Vigilant, kind hearted and deeply knowledgeable with a very lovely sense of humor, never short of a smile.
Sina Sent (a student of 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training from Turkey)
I recommend Ram’s singing bowl (sound bath) ✨ It will help balance your disturbed body and mind.
I was impressed by Ram’s personality and attitude toward yoga (lifestyle)! I would love to come back sometime!
– Masa Kun from Okayama, Japan
