10 ways to “fly” your yoga teacher (and 10 tips to avoid it)
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I have been practicing yoga for over 15 years. The beginnings of my yoga practice were with my mother in the living room at home, later attending different yoga centers and schools, where I learned and practiced different styles.
In recent years I began to study and delve into yoga, and over time I began to teach.
Now I realize, as a teacher and as a student, the number of things we do, sometimes a bit annoying and disrespectful, when we attend yoga classes. Some of these I present below:
1) Being unpunctual
NO. Being late to class, making a lot of noise and banging on the door just in case someone still hasn’t heard you, even though class started 10 minutes ago!
YES. Advice : arrive early for the next class, this will give you time to settle in and get into the pleasant atmosphere of the room, leave the rush outside and keep quiet so as not to disturb your classmates .
2) Pay the monthly fee
NO. You have been attending yoga classes for 15 days and you still have not paid the amount for the sessions! Perhaps you are going through a difficult economic time and have difficulties to face the payment.
YES. Advice : inform your teacher, he will understand and you will reach a solution; but perhaps you are a bit clueless or it is difficult for you to “let go” of money, then you should think that the yoga center you attend also has its expenses and that you must deal with them every month: electricity, telephone, salaries, etc. Be responsible and think about the rest, pay your monthly payment within the term!
3) Talk During Class
NO. Talking to your friend throughout class, thinking that everyone wants to know what you did over the weekend. If you want we can stop the class so we can all hear your fantastic stories!
YES. Tip : wait until the class is over and after the yoga session you can go to have a snack together to tell each other everything you want, think that the rest don’t care much about what you do in your private life…
4) Not making room for others
NO. Occupy the space of two or three people with your mat and defend your place above all else!
YES. Tip : there is room for everyone in the room, each student is free to occupy the space they most want, you are not the only person who will attend the session.
5) Corrections to your teacher
NO. Correct the teacher by questioning his way of teaching the class, in front of the rest of the classmates.
YES. Advice : trust the person who teaches the class, if he does, it is because he is perfectly qualified for it. Perhaps you come from another style of yoga or school and the exercises and form of the class are different, then take advantage of the opportunity to advance on your path and discover yoga asanas that you do not know, and ask your teacher if you have any questions at the end of the class, he will gladly help you.
6) Go on your own in class
NO. Do what you want in class, without paying attention to the teacher’s instructions and without respecting your classmates.
YES. Advice : I am in favor of modifications in the positions that work best for each one, but within reason. Doing balance postures while the rest of your classmates are doing the Sun Salutation is not very correct or pleasant for the rest of the class, it breaks the harmony created.
7) Try To Be The Teacher
NO. Advanced students who, as soon as the yoga teacher says goodbye, do not miss the opportunity to remove their position.
YES. Advice : Close your eyes and enjoy the practice, you are attending the class as a student, you are not responsible for this class, respect the work of your teacher.
8) Eating gum in class and laughing heartily
NO. Chewing gum in class, blowing bubbles and all! and break out laughing when you see your classmates doing asanas that you don’t know.
YES. Advice : better throw away the gum because some asanas and pranayamas will be very complicated if you are chewing gum and especially if you are making noise it will not be very pleasant for the rest of the class. We all have laughed at some time in yoga class, but from there to spending the whole class laughing… it’s not so funny for the rest, maybe it’s better that you go out of class for a few minutes, take a breath and When you feel calmer, go back to class, everyone will thank you.
9) Eat garlic before class
NO. Eating foods that leave you with very strong breath, going to class very perfumed or not having showered and smelling of sweat are ways to make sure that no one wants to put their mat next to you during yoga class.
YES. Advice : avoid eating a few hours before yoga practice, and if you do it better that they be fruits, juices, infusions, etc., avoid strong perfumes and try to be clean and neat when you go to attend a yoga practice.
10) Not Caring About Others
NO. Skip olympically from others and from the room.
YES. Advice : pay attention and keep in mind that although the yoga practice is personal, you are not the only person in the room, respect the environment and take care of the environment. Between all of us we achieved a harmonic and very pleasant yoga practice.