Before I began teaching I was given a piece of advice that was instrumental in how I would ultimately instruct/construct a class: Your personal practice is not while you’re teaching – you’re there for your students, not yourself.
Cultivating and maintaining a personal practice is key to being an exceptional teacher and I’ll walk through that in another post. Today, I want to encourage teachers of yoga everywhere to get off your dadgum mats.
Allow me to explain…
Your students need you.
They desperately need you to see their misalignment in all of its frightening, potentially hazardous, glory. This is challenging enough if you haven’t been given a proper foundation in anatomy, mechanics, therapeutic applications, and modifications (and if that’s the case, you should consider additional education before you tackle any class of multiple levels, ages, and abilities). But it’s made even more so if you are glued to your mat. You must be mobile. Not only is this a safety issue, but circumnavigating the room will catapult your confidence and teaching ability to the next level. Sticking to your mat, whether due to insecurity or vanity, does your students no favors. While actively moving about the room, you’ll discover a multitude of physical limitations, emotional vulnerabilities, and injuries-waiting-to-happen that need your attention. You must see them to correct them, or run the risk of loosing your business to the chiropractor next door.
Your students want you.
They desperately want to be noticed by you; they want to connect. Affirm their commitment to showing up with verbal cues and praise, eye contact and a smile. Perhaps even touch if appropriate and approved; a skillful and thoughtful assist can melt a heart and open eyes. To truly be seen by one’s teacher leaves even a seasoned yogi feeling validated and connected. Want to go the extra mile? Call them by name.
I know it can be intimidating, confusing even, and many teachers will remain on their mats for the ‘exercise’. But yoga is not a work out, it is a work in. Yoga educators unite; you can do this!! Repeat after me: My personal practice is not while I’m teaching. Again: My personal practice is not while I’m teaching… You’ve got this! See you in class.
