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In my last two posts I started our conversation about the Language of Yoga with an exploration of what not to do, and began illustrations and explanations for what we should do instead. I introduced the first of the essential language skills for teaching yoga: Knowing the Basics of the Poses. I began to illustrate the important differences between active/passive language and direct/indirect language. Today I’ll continue that exploration by talking about how you can Nourish Your Presence. (Learn more about our 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings here.) Nourish Your Presence
On a daily basis, and certainly before you walk into your classroom, you must Nourish Your Presence. I’ve been teaching yoga for more than 25 years. Things have changed. What teachers seem to expect of themselves, and what they perceive students are expecting from them, has also changed. An example that comes to mind is spending time designing a sequence in advance and setting up a playlist. These are new evolutions in the yoga community. Perhaps a decade or so old now (or maybe longer), my awareness of this has increased over the past 10 years through open conversations with yoga teachers who are struggling to teach sustainably. In the conversations I have with yoga teachers entering our 300-hour yoga therapy training program, what I hear from them about this is:
With the celebration and integration of mindfulness into practically every aspect of modern life, what I recommend to teachers, in all stages of development as a teacher, is a daily nourishment of our Inner Presence through a simple 3-step mindfulness practice. I also strongly recommend using this practice before you begin your class, as you teach your class, and as a template for integrating mindfulness into your class. This both lessens the internal pressure teachers seem to be feeling about teaching their classes, and creates a learning atmosphere that reflects the ancient teachings of yogic wisdom. When we feel less pressured to perform or to entertain our students, and when we’re truly trusting in the processes of the yogic teachings, the sense of self with which we walk into the classroom changes. We get out of our own way. We also get out of the way of our students. We elicit fewer projections from them and we will project onto them less intensely as well! Get In Your GAP: Get Grounded, Pay Attention, Become Present
Practicing this on a daily basis, many times a day (in place of designing your sequences and setting up your playlists), will develop your presence. This is the gateway to your ability to be in direct relationship with your students, as they are, in front of you. As you hone your intuition about what’s needed in their poses (and more importantly in their practices), this process will provide you with the inner sanctuary from which you’ll be able to teach without getting tired. (Learn more about our 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings here.) (I know in the trauma-informed conversations we’re having, one of the What Not To Do’s is not to assume you might know what your students are needing. I understand you may have been instructed to assume that they will know. I will address this in another blog. Stay tuned, because what I want to share may be upsetting in a very stimulating and yet empowering way!) We also have new “styles” of yoga, some that seem to require teaching students to do things more quickly, while making sure they get “all” the pieces of the pose figured out. Some of the drawbacks here, for both teacher and student, include the way in which this mimics the pace we expect of our lives and the chronic pre-occupations with our To Do Lists and Getting It All Done before we “Get To Relax”.
How might this “script” be adjusted with Getting in the GAP?
It may take longer to teach the poses in this way. Yet, the effect on your nervous system, your students, and your class ambiance offers a much deeper value than the numbers of poses you can talk them through in 60-90 minutes. There is more to say on the advantages of the shifts I’m recommending. I will continue in a follow-up post, Value and Engage, to explore these recommendations. For now, I look forward to hearing from you as to how you experience these suggestions in your body, in your practice, and in your classrooms. (Learn more about our 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings here.)
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