We’ve all had a bad yoga class. Sometimes the mistakes or problems were obvious, and sometimes we just left with a vague feeling of unease. Most likely, after a bad class with a new yoga teacher, we decided to try something else next time. If students seem to be dropping away from a class, perhaps some of the common mistakes of yoga teachers are being made. Here are some of the mistakes, and how to correct or avoid them in our yoga classes.
1. Taking oneself too seriously. Yoga is important, of course, but so are many other experiences in life. If you find that an entire yoga class has gone by with no reason to smile, lighten up.
2. Overestimating skill levels or letting the ego get in the way. A good Yoga teacher recognizes limits. He or she may not be able to comfortably teach every practice that they can do by themselves. Taking a weekend workshop and trying to incorporate brand-new skills in class can do more harm than good, if the training is not complete or too advanced. Resist the urge to “show off” new skills or asanas that are newly mastered. If you find yourself frustrated with students who aren’t “getting it,” it is a sure sign that the ego is getting the way of teaching.
3. Insecurity. No practice is perfect – that’s why it’s called practice! Know that mistakes will be made and accept correction. A teacher who believes him or herself infallible is asking for trouble.
4. Not treating teaching yoga like a profession. Yoga may be a calling, but teaching is a profession. Being professional means starting and ending classes on time. Overly personal or negative comments to students should be avoided, and keep blogs or emails to students on topic. Don’t gossip about other yoga teachers. Maintain records and a clean, safe area for practice.
5. Schizophrenic practice. Great teachers value consistency. This does not mean that practice needs to be the same every week! However, chasing trends and introducing a new prop every class is likely to alienate those students who feel as though they “clicked” with the style offered. When a new skill is thoroughly understood, by all means it should be introduced, but the general format of the class should be consistent over time.
If some of these mistakes hit close to home, don’t despair. Recognizing a problem is the first step in correcting it. With insight into the issues, a strong practice and dedicated students are right around the corner.
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