So in my haste to learn as much as I can about teaching yoga, I have decided to interview teachers about their teaching style so I can find my own style. Beginning to teach is, I must admit, terrifying. I make up sequences and study the cues for each pose, and just try to be as prepared as I can. So.... my plan was to ask Julia about what cues she would give for a standing split. Sweet girl, one matinee down and one show to go, she took me aside in the lobby of the theatre and illuminated my class planning one Sunny afternoon in March.
The thing is, as we all find out, plans don't always work out they way they were planned. Instead of writing down the cues that she would teach, and perhaps the preparations poses she would do, I learned something that day that I now remind myself before class every time I teach. "Create an atmosphere of relaxation, in where the students aren’t afraid of doing something wrong. Most students, new students especially aren’t used to being touched, unless they are doing something wrong." Becoming aware of that was really big. Oprah would say it's an "ah ha moment". I think she may have said this off the fly, but it was something I'll always remember. It's so important for the atmosphere to be open to people trying new things. She reminded me that standing on one foot is not a normal occurrence for most, and that simple reminder will benefit my teaching from now on. I am so used to yoga studios in the city, where people are SERIOUS about yoga. I need my classes to be about trying new things.
She also said, "people all know their own bodies really well, even if they don’t know it yet” and you're there to guide them. They were upside down a lot when they were younger!" I found this conversation so useful, that I am going to interview more teachers for other tidbits of wisdom.
