A Challenge to my fellow Yoga Teachers

September 1st, 2014

As a yoga teacher I know the Yoga path is one of great learning, challenges and tremendous gifts rooted in deep personal growth. We are constantly offered the space to step onto this path that is paved with the powerful element of yogic philosophy, as we traverse the landscape of profound and mystical teachings from the wisdom of ages. Somewhere deep within in each of us we understand these teachings. They call to us and yet we are equally steeped in a culture that clashes with them. The root of the challenge we share is found in that clashing of the softness of our understanding and the firmness that our cultural upbringing holds on us in the subconscious. Raising awareness is our way.

To embrace the teachings, to infuse our life with them, to shed the Samscara (habits) of our cultural up bringing, and to shine the light of the true yoga path is our trial.

As I challenge myself each class, I invite you to join me and challenge yourself to bring forth the voice and words that reflect the yogic path.

Starting with Namaha, bowing to the greater esssence, find words that invite your students to explore the poses and unlock their bodies. Let go of the words that reflect statements rooted in Ego and express what YOU want from or for them. Does it matter at all what you want? Catch yourself when you begin to say, “next I want you to…” and convert it to a statement of offering that brings them to becoming aware of their body or breath in the pose.

Bring your words that cue into the transformative experience that will help the students learn to self-love themselves rather than self abuse. It may take them some time to hear you clearly, as their habit of self-criticism may translate what you are saying. The challenge I extend here is for our practice of alignment with the tenants of yoga to be expressed from our own loving kindness, into the cueing expressions we use and the actions we take. Repeat over, and over again to help them to hear this powerful message.

Make your cueing be full of allowing and diminish the importance of how things “should” be. Guide them to feel what is available to them in each moment, each posture, each transition as they self discover and expand their own potential. For instance in Warrior I, is the angle of the back foot the focus you are encouraging them to explore, or can they find the position from the hip? What happens when you invite them to start from the hip and place the back foot in a position to support their own hip flexibility, rather than telling them to put the foot at a 42.5 degree angle?

Open your own heart as you listen to your cueing. You will slip into your own habit of cueing, born from your teachers (and their teachers) and hear yourself say, “Next I want you to…” Take that moment to smile, self love and transform again. Look for how you can ask them to explore their practice, feel their experience and align from there.

I am offering this opportunity as a challenge of self growth. As you take this challenge your teaching will grow, as your heart expands. Let me know how it goes.