Five Things You Did Not Know About Teaching Yoga
A Yoga Teacher is a learner as well, an educator who is always striving for more knowledge and gaining new skills to bring improvements in his curriculum and impart better lessons. He goes beyond the conventional ways to add versatility to his existing format and bring something new and refreshing in his lesson. He is not only an educationist but also a guide and a counselor who can nurture his student’s inherent capabilities to make them capable enough to become a good teacher and a better human being.
However following are the few tips that can help the teacher to add value to an existing format of teaching:
Start the Class with Savasana
Generally, Savasana is done towards the middle or the end of the session, but if it is performed in the beginning, it can be very beneficial for the students who come to attend the session after their hectic schedule, so they are tired. Few minutes of Savasana can be very relaxing and can mentally prepare them to perform the poses.
Give Time for Meditation
Avoid starting the session with heavy poses. If you see students are drained, motivate them to sit with their eyes closed and meditate for few minutes. Teach them some meditation techniques, which would cool their mind and make them more at ease and then start the session but with lighter poses.
Modify the Poses
Many students attends yoga with a history of illness or a physical injury, or they might be currently suffering from any illness or pain, so it is highly suggested to modify the poses that suit their physical needs. The main skill lies in making space for them so that they feel comfortable in performing poses. If you feel breaking down the sequences will be more beneficial for the students, do it.
Teach Variations in Poses
If a student finds difficulty in performing a pose, provide a variation and teach how to perform it well. Demonstrate the variation and show how easy it would be if it is performed in a slightly modified way. The customized variation technique would make students feel comfortable in performing the asana.
Show Positive Attitude
Start your class with a positive note, an anecdote or a small story. These few words can fill the students with enthusiasm to perform their best.
The true skill of Yoga Master lies in on how well they teach the poses through modifications and necessary adjustments. Besides, Yoga teacher always tries to create an emotional connection with the students to understand them well. And a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, which they get after the class, cannot be described in words.