What\u2019s in it for the teacher who teaches advanced postures in a multi-level class? Mostly money. But when your students book private lessons with me because they got hurt in your class it\u2019s a clear signal to me that something\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n
Those types of classes – power yoga, hot yoga, hot vinyasa yoga, aerial yoga, yoga with drapes, etc. – are all the rage right now because it’s an easy way to fill your classroom.<\/p>\n
Yoga teachers generally are paid by the studio for each student in class; more students equals more money.\u00a0Or maybe the teacher is young or just hasn\u2019t been teaching yoga long enough to know the difference.\u00a0Many Yoga Teacher Training programs don\u2019t have time to go into all the postures that could injure students.<\/p>\n
My classes aren\u2019t filled by a revolving door of students looking for the next impressive posture. Instead, they\u2019re a Sangha group of students caring, supporting, and celebrating together their accomplishments as well as their setbacks.<\/p>\n
Those types of classes – power yoga, hot yoga, hot vinyasa yoga, aerial yoga, yoga with drapes, etc. – are all the rage right now because it’s an easy way to fill your classroom.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I fill my classroom by building strong foundational postures so that when you come to my advanced class you\u2019re prepared for those harder postures.\u00a0This is yoga,\u00a0not a competition that\u2019s constantly comparing yourself to others, with tight faces, tight minds, and tense bodies.<\/p>\n
Every student that walks into the classroom has a patina of life on their body, sometimes obvious, sometimes not. For instance, rounded shoulders aren’t a good candidate for either head or shoulder stand, and make even basic postures like Standing Mountain (Tadasana), bridge, cobra, eagle, cow face posture, or even arms overhead challenging.<\/p>\n
Train Correctly And Enjoy The Benefits<\/h3>\n
I\u2019ve heard teachers say, \u201cThey aren\u2019t in the postures very long, so it won\u2019t cause any real damage,\u201d but is that really the teacher\u2019s choice to make for the students?\u00a0Those little imbalances in the physical body that you didn\u2019t notice finally succumb to nature, causing injury and forcing the body to stop, rest, and heal.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard for me to answer questions like, \u201cWhy would they teach that in class if it could cause injury,\u201d and \u201cWhy don\u2019t they tell us the importance of the preparatory postures?\u201d The answer is that many yoga postures could cause injury if done without alignment and awareness or by forcing.<\/p>\n
Many teachers put responsibility on the student, saying that, \u201cThey should know what they shouldn\u2019t do.\u201d However, those teachers rarely teach the basic postures thoroughly.\u00a0All too often those basics are glossed over, meanwhile skirting the importance of doing basic postures with steady ease so that advanced postures then become easy.<\/p>\n
Learn The Basics First, And The Rest Comes Easy<\/h3>\n
My teacher Karin Stephan says, \u201cTeach the harder actions in the easier postures so the harder postures become easy.\u201d Has your teacher told you that Downward Facing Dog posture is a prep posture for handstand? If you can\u2019t do an easy, aligned Downward Facing Dog posture why are you pushing\/forcing into handstand? Ego?<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t find those exciting postures in my mixed level classes. What you will find is alignment, strength, balance, and awareness so that you\u2019ll be practicing yoga into your 70\u2019s and beyond.<\/p>\n
You’ll also find joy, laughter, community, and perhaps new friends. As Mr Iyengar said, \u201cIf you can\u2019t stand on your feet how can I teach you to stand on your hands?\u201d See you on the mat!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Don’t Get Hurt Taking The Wrong Class What\u2019s in it for the teacher who teaches advanced postures in a multi-level class? Mostly money. But when your students book private lessons with me because they got hurt in your class it\u2019s a clear signal to me that something\u2019s wrong. Those types of classes – power yoga, … Continue reading Are You Really Ready For Advanced Postures?<\/span>