To become a more authentic teacher, it is essential to go beyond simply following a set sequence in a class.
Are we truly educating or just putting on a show? True teaching involves presenting knowledge and wisdom in easily digestible portions!
Out of respect and a commitment to accuracy, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the Philosophy before imparting it to others.
Merely superficially referencing or dropping names is not the goal here! The aim is to evolve into a more genuine teacher who is an integral part of the Yoga community!
Before you share...
STEP 1
Review your Philosophy notes from your Yoga Teacher Training or personal studies and identify the topics that resonate with you the most.
STEP 2
Make sure you grasp the essence of this concept, write about it, contemplate on it, and integrate it into your life to understand its practical significance.
STEP 3
Be confident in sharing - it doesn't have to be a formal lecture; you can incorporate it into your class theme, choice of postures, or meditation practice.
OK, time to share! Here are some practical ways you can weave Yoga Philosophy into your classes:
CLASS THEME
Creating a theme for a class is not just enjoyable, but it enhances its depth, educational value, and authenticity. This enriches the experience your students have on the mat with you, making it truly rewarding and enlightening. Infusing philosophy into the class theme provides a focal point and instills in students a greater sense of purpose beyond mere exercise, encouraging students to commit to find solace and support in their practice.
Examples:
The Gunas
The Chakras
The Koshas
Yin Yang
Elements
AUM
These are fundamental principles that can be incorporated into both the content and delivery of your teachings. There is no better approach to studying Philosophy than integrating it in our actions, thoughts, and motivations.
DEFINE TERMS LIKE "SVASANA"
Do not overlook terms like this that are rich and profound. Make sure to explain the significance of this to help educate your students and enable them to delve into the deeper lessons that Yoga and it's original language has to offer.
Example:
SVASANA-
Corpse pose, known as Svasana, is a practice on its own, often done at the end of an Asana sequence. By explaining the deeper meaning of 'corpse pose' to students before they experience it, it can help them be more present.
Delving into its name reveals a lesson on cycles. This lesson acknowledges the natural law that everything has a beginning, middle, and end.
We observe this pattern in nature and life in general, making it relatable for all students to grasp and contemplate the micro and macro cycles in their own lives.
Svasana symbolizes the conclusion of a cycle, hence its name 'corpse pose'. It embodies the practice of embracing rather than resisting, allowing space for new growth and the initiation of new cycles.
Sometimes as Yoga teachers we can assume too much - we forget what it was like to practice before doing our training. Some of the topics which we may feel are 'basic' and 'simple' are ground breaking to those who haven't studied Yoga.
TAKE EXTRACTS FROM KEY TEXTS
The following texts can be great resources to take bitesize lessons from to share in your class:
Examples:
The Yoga Sutras
The Bhagavgita
The books are organized in Sutras (verses), simplifying the process of choosing a lesson. Ensure that your theme and guidance are pertinent, and aim to consistently reference this teaching throughout the class. Don't just mention it once, drip feed and weave it in!
For more texts which can help you share deeper parts of the practice, read the following article:
MAKE IT RELEVANT
To effectively convey these teachings, it is essential to ensure their relevance to contemporary thinking. Incorporate everyday examples that resonate with students, drawing from common thoughts and experiences to facilitate their understanding.
It is important to reflect on the characteristics of these principles. Doing so will provide students with a practical tool to determine if they have a balanced, holistic lifestyle.
Empowering students to draw their own conclusions is the most effective way to nurture their ongoing enthusiasm and deepen their experience with you.
Example:
YIN YANG
YIN - Internal, introspective, mental, emotional, deep, nourishing, slow, intuitive, thought focussed, feminine, accepting, grounded, cool
YANG - External, physical, superficial, revitalising, energised, impulsive, masculine, action focussed, motivated, adaptive, hot
See how we have used words that are easily transferable and recognisable when self reflecting.
Thanks for reading! If you are enjoying the Barefoot Yoga School teachings & perspectives, we welcome you to come and study Yoga with us and join a 200HR or 300HR Yoga Teacher training!
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