Yoga - new teacher, may challenge
tashar and austengirl asked how my search for a new yoga teacher is going. I mused about part of my dilemma in a comment on _ishtahar_'s real life blog a few weeks ago, but let's start from the beginning.
I've actually been attending my usual class with the new guy. It is just ok, but very tense. He always puts a cd on to "distract us from the gym sounds", and then proceeds to ignore it. This drives me bonkers, not only because it changes tempo several times during the class, but often it leaves me torn between his count and the music. Sounds stupid but I have trouble moving not in time to music and so this isn't a little thing.
He's trying really hard to be mindful of our existing practices while challenging us and pushing us out of our complacency. Still, his corrections make me uneasy and I find myself asking him not to correct me.
In her post on what to do about rude yoga students, Ish wrote:
But by far the worst thing that has happened to me was when I was covering a friend’s class at a gym. Suddenly, about five minutes into the class one particular student began to do her own personal practice in the middle of the room. I quietly asked if everything was OK. She told me she didn’t like “this kind of yoga”. Now, everyone teaches differently and not everyone welcomes the cover teacher with open arms but I do believe if you teach from the heart most people will enjoy it. Clearly not all though.
I said I was sorry to hear she was unhAppy and quietly asked her if they would maybe like to leave and come back the next week when the regular teacher returned.
She just carried on.
And I just carried on teaching.
She continued to practice throughout the class and throughout my relaxation session.
She was still going when I left.
I honestly didn’t know what else to do.
Even now, with many more years teaching experience behind me I’m still not sure I would know what to do.
Of course, we should all be practicing mindful detachment and letting these situations go. What can I say? We’re only human!
This made me wonder if I'm turning into one of "those" students:
I’ve been struggling with this too, but from the other side of the spectrum.
You remember my lovely long time yoga teacher handed her classes over? Well, it’s been something of a settling in process with the new guy (for the new teacher is male, unusually) and I struggle in maintaining the right balance between being open to new guidance and the insight a new teacher brings and listening to the wisdom of living 31 years in this body, over a decade of it including a yoga practice. He can’t be expected to know all the ins and outs of my body (like for example why I don’t bind in Marichiasana C even though I physically can - trying to retrain my spine to twist from the “right” spot). No doubt he thinks I’m a the worst student because when he comes to adjust me, I (so far!) frequently have a reason why that adjustment is not appropriate and ask him not to adjust me. No doubt he finds this really challenging!
But where does “body awareness/inner wisdom” become “ego” and so counter productive?
I'm still not sure I have an answer to that, but I'm thinking that the time has come to admit that it's just not working and go out to find someone else. Sigh. Fortunately, in London I have some options. I just didn't want to have to. Ah well. At least no one can claim I didn't give the new guy a fair chance.
On the upside, I've set myself a new challenge for May, inspired by a comment made on another yoga blog (I don't recall which one - will see if I can back track it) - One Downward Dog A Day. The idea being once I actually get on my mat I'll probably do more, but only have to commit to one down dog, which makes a daily practice seem more manageable. We'll see how we go!
I've actually been attending my usual class with the new guy. It is just ok, but very tense. He always puts a cd on to "distract us from the gym sounds", and then proceeds to ignore it. This drives me bonkers, not only because it changes tempo several times during the class, but often it leaves me torn between his count and the music. Sounds stupid but I have trouble moving not in time to music and so this isn't a little thing.
He's trying really hard to be mindful of our existing practices while challenging us and pushing us out of our complacency. Still, his corrections make me uneasy and I find myself asking him not to correct me.
In her post on what to do about rude yoga students, Ish wrote:
But by far the worst thing that has happened to me was when I was covering a friend’s class at a gym. Suddenly, about five minutes into the class one particular student began to do her own personal practice in the middle of the room. I quietly asked if everything was OK. She told me she didn’t like “this kind of yoga”. Now, everyone teaches differently and not everyone welcomes the cover teacher with open arms but I do believe if you teach from the heart most people will enjoy it. Clearly not all though.
I said I was sorry to hear she was unhAppy and quietly asked her if they would maybe like to leave and come back the next week when the regular teacher returned.
She just carried on.
And I just carried on teaching.
She continued to practice throughout the class and throughout my relaxation session.
She was still going when I left.
I honestly didn’t know what else to do.
Even now, with many more years teaching experience behind me I’m still not sure I would know what to do.
Of course, we should all be practicing mindful detachment and letting these situations go. What can I say? We’re only human!
This made me wonder if I'm turning into one of "those" students:
I’ve been struggling with this too, but from the other side of the spectrum.
You remember my lovely long time yoga teacher handed her classes over? Well, it’s been something of a settling in process with the new guy (for the new teacher is male, unusually) and I struggle in maintaining the right balance between being open to new guidance and the insight a new teacher brings and listening to the wisdom of living 31 years in this body, over a decade of it including a yoga practice. He can’t be expected to know all the ins and outs of my body (like for example why I don’t bind in Marichiasana C even though I physically can - trying to retrain my spine to twist from the “right” spot). No doubt he thinks I’m a the worst student because when he comes to adjust me, I (so far!) frequently have a reason why that adjustment is not appropriate and ask him not to adjust me. No doubt he finds this really challenging!
But where does “body awareness/inner wisdom” become “ego” and so counter productive?
I'm still not sure I have an answer to that, but I'm thinking that the time has come to admit that it's just not working and go out to find someone else. Sigh. Fortunately, in London I have some options. I just didn't want to have to. Ah well. At least no one can claim I didn't give the new guy a fair chance.
On the upside, I've set myself a new challenge for May, inspired by a comment made on another yoga blog (I don't recall which one - will see if I can back track it) - One Downward Dog A Day. The idea being once I actually get on my mat I'll probably do more, but only have to commit to one down dog, which makes a daily practice seem more manageable. We'll see how we go!