Apurva – Yoga with Jenn

Gabrielle Harris’s The Inspired Yoga Teacher: The essential guide to creating transformational classes your students will love is quite the toolbox! Much of the information is reminiscent of all the training I have completed with Janet. The book is organized by beginning (soul-full starts, setting foundations, and starting shapes), meaningful middles, and divine endings. Of all the yoga-related texts I have read over the years, this book is a comprehensive incorporation of the 5-elements, chakras, prana vayus, deities, yamas, and niyamas. Each section begins with “To the Mind” (breakdown of the Sanskrit, benefits, related language and themes), “To the Heart” (dharma, science, application to everyday life, analogies, etc.), “To the Body” (asana with cues and variations), and “Teaching Notes”.

I was particularly impressed that Danda Pranam (Full Prostration) was included as I did not learn about it until my training with Janet. Under the “To the Body” is the script titled “Honour”:

Another concept that was further elaborated on that many other texts do not mention are the Prana Vayus. Harris notes where each vayu is seated, what it governs, how it moves, the corresponding chakra and element, as well as symptoms of imbalance. She then elaborates on incorporating the vayus in practice: asana, breath, mudra, and bandha. This section helped to further solidify Janet’s teachings.

The “Flow with the Deities” section includes Hanuman, Kali, Shiva, Arjuna. As with the other sections, each begins with “To the Mind” translating the deity’s name, a brief discussion on lineage and iconography, as well as the pose associated with the deity. “To the Heart” offers the story associated with the deity’s revered characteristics and mantra. “To the Body” begins with detailed pranayama practice, followed by asana sequence(s) and related cueing leading to the peak pose. The “Teaching Notes” offer additional guidance followed by “To Your Life” in how to manifest the deity in our everyday life.

The “Sutra Stitches” elaborates on the Yoga Sutras, particularly providing detailed guidance for each of the yamas and niyamas. Similar to the previous sections, each is tailored for the particular yama/niyama. For example, the section on “Tapas” includes a Home Practice for the morning and evening; Svdhyaya includes a Self-Myofascial Release.

Overall, I am impressed with this text. It is well-laid out, thought-out, and insightful. As someone who appreciates organization and concision, this text is perfect for me. While all of my training notes are housed in a 4″ binder, color-coded, labeled, and organized by training, this comprehensive toolkit will prove to be an invaluable supplment to my It also allows me to refresh my memory when planning classes.

Work Cited:

Harris, Gabrielle. Inspired Yoga Teacher: The Essential Guide to Creating Transformational Classes your Students will Love. Luminary Press: Coppell, 2021.