I had a teacher that always made me feel as if the class revolved around me. Of course that isn't true, but thatnis how I felt when I walked out. I strive for this a a yoga teacher..
Rachel, I just adore your videos. I hope you don't mind, but I shared this video with my teaches to reference as we go into teaching at our new studio here in Minot. Thank you for all the great tips!
Absolutely they are meant to be shared! Happy to connect with you here Danielle and I’m so happy they are helpful🥰🥰 and congratulations on your new studio!!!💫💫💫💫💫
Thank you, Rachel, for yet another informative video. I would definitely agree with how some of my students feel like "problem" or "gifted" children. I think it's important to acknowledge all the right things they do throughout practice to build confidence and create positive associations with yoga. That's what will keep them coming back ☺️.
Thanks for sharing Rachel! I do (did) say..."If it's part of your practice" as I have 1 or 2 students that are clearly more "advanced than others" and want to do Downward dog for example, when most of the other students in the class can't/don't do it. I'll now try and say something more specific. It's also so much harder to teach multi-level online vs. in person which I do as I can't see all the students well so I tend to be super super conservative about encouraging students to move beyond where they are as I don't want them to risk injury. I have a lot of older people in my classes. Any suggestions on how to teach multi-level classes online ( I mean other than what you've suggested here). Thanks so much!
Ahh Karin, such a good question! Yes teaching online can be so tricky when it's harder to see students. Sounds like you're on the right track to be a little more conservative. But as I like to say, "accessible" doesn't necessarily mean "easy!" so while we may choose more accessible poses when teaching online, we can definitely still invite students to feel challenged. I'm a big fan of using a wall or a chair for home practices (for balancing, support, etc) and to actively use these as props to keep people stable. Chairs can be amazing for older populations ~ and they don't necessarily make it "easier" so much as add that layer of support to help folks really try the posture out to their capacity. I think that setting really clear benchmarks for students when you're staging poses will be a great tool, tool. ~ And I will pull back from (completely) vilifying the "if it's part of your practice" phrase 😆 LOL - I do confess that sometimes it can be a useful tool to pull out of our back pocket when we don't have much time. 😁
I don’t teach yoga, but listening to this made me realize that several of my yoga instructors do not do these things to help out mixed classes. I first went to a yoga studio after a year and maybe four months of doing yoga. I’m so glad I did, because that first class that I went to, the instructors weren’t doing what you’re suggesting they should be doing. I felt intimidated on many levels, including having more advanced students in the front of the room, which made me feel somehow inadequate and also because of trying variations of poses that I should not have been trying because I felt pressured to do so.
Now that I have advanced in my practice to become an advanced Yogi, I really feel for the newer students who are pretty brand new to yoga coming into a class and feeling that same way that I felt. I empathize with them completely.
AHHH I am always so grouchy when teachers miss the opportunity to really help everyone feel included ~ and create options that can serve everyone! Thank you for sharing this~ it's really good to have a real life reminder that a few adjustments in teaching can make a big difference to help everyone feel included and at ease. 💛
