Introduction to Teaching: A Beginner’s Guide
Remember the Beginner’s Experience
As yoga instructors, it’s astonishing how quickly we can forget what it’s like to be tangled up like a pretzel for the first time in our lives. The cacophony of unfamiliar instructions, the peculiar incense wafting through the air, and the physical contortions—it’s all rather new and perplexing. Some newbies find themselves a bit lost, struggling to figure out how to manipulate their limbs as commanded. Even those who’ve tried other sports may find the yoga experience, well, let’s say, surprisingly taxing. This entire pandemonium can feel like maneuvering a seventeen-wheeler on a racetrack for the very first time. Naturally, trying to hold something like Virabhadrasana I (that’s the Warrior 1 Pose for you laypeople) is akin to climbing Mount Everest without ever setting foot outside of Florida. Concentration on breathing, deciphering instructions, and maintaining the pose is no small feat, especially when your muscles are rebelling at this delightful concoction of exertion.
Take a moment to empathize with a beginner: here’s someone struggling to balance and perhaps wondering why their hamstrings are contemplating resignation from their body.
Overview of Considerations
So, when charged with the noble duty of guiding beginners, one must consider strategies that might ease the path. Our first commandment—be thoughtfully supportive, ensuring the enigma of yoga instruction isn’t exacerbated by enigmatic teaching. While this touches the mere surface of teaching fundamentals, there exists an entire universe of knowledge available for those who dive deeper.
In addition to basics, teaching seniors requires us to dial up our training and experience by a few notches. Every level of yoga embarks us further into the depths of its philosophy, unveiling fresh perspectives for the teacher.
Be Thoughtful & Supportive
Turn up early, prioritize a warm welcome, and yes, surprise the students with your punctuality. Your introductory eye contact should communicate, “Don’t worry, we won’t be doing headstands right away, promise.” Engage them in brief chats to assess their background, as no one wants a delightful surprise of a sprained muscle. Remind them to cherish personal progress over the aspiration for perfection, lest they overstrain themselves chasing the gravitationally improbable.
Teach Students with Care
Stand among mere mortals to ensure every pair of eyes can follow your illustrious demonstrations. Avoid the temptation to shine the spotlight of individuality on anyone timidly lurking at the back. If adjustments demand your touch, ensure they’re inclusive—think of it as a secret handshake, without the exclusivity.
Promote Safety
Encourage student autonomy—the sooner they become friends with bodily sensations (no, not like that), the better. Teach them to distinguish between the symphony of stretching muscles and the cacophony of joint pain. Incorporate breath awareness—because self-care doesn’t translate to lung vexation.
Sequence Mindfully & Simply
Adopt the mantra of “less is more”, at least while they’re still figuring out where their elbows are. Allow time for repetition, for what better way to master something than to wrestle it into submission through repetition? Introduce new poses gingerly and avoid those long, drawn-out holds—lest students turn into statues themselves.
Teach Clearly
Keep your eloquent soliloquies sophisticated but succinct; engaging yet not overwhelming. Your choreography should dance gracefully around simple principles of breathing and alignment. They’re here to ground themselves, not to become a Wikipedia entry.
Choose Appropriate Variations
Your top priority is to know modifications like the back of your hand. Present variations that make sense within the cosmos of each pose. Who said safety couldn’t be stylish too?
For those with an insatiable desire for additional wisdom on how best to nurture the fledgling yogi, check out Ashtanga Tech’s Study Guide. Go forth and mold the next generation of human pretzels with verve.