Why aren’t you Moving, too?
dem·on·stra·tion
/ˌdemənˈstrāSH(ə)n/
noun
a practical exhibition and explanation of how something works or is performed.
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve heard students say, “But, why aren’t you doing the postures, too? … Why aren’t you on your mat practicing with us?” We constantly are asked the question as to why we don’t demonstrate during classes; and quite frankly, our yoga teacher trainees were very intrigued at first, too. If you attend a yoga class at The Yoga Haven or you’re interested in participating in our upcoming yoga teacher training program, one of the first things you’ll see or hear is we do not demonstrate nor practice for the entire duration of our classes. We utilize cues through words and walk around the room observing while supporting students as though we are just another prop in the room.
But, why?
First and foremost, teaching a yoga class is incredibly challenging. We are asking the brain to teach a prepared class sequence, use words to describe actions, read bodies in the room and adapt to what’s occurring in students while concurrently being mindful of the room temperature, lighting, prop usage, offer physical support and so. much. more. Adding movement on top of those tasks is a recipe for disaster. The yoga practice asks individuals to be mindful and intentional of the body, in turn creating a mind/body connection. Being completely mindful of my body while I’m teaching is impossible. There’s no way I can turn inward to my own sensations and be conscious and present for my students simultaneously. Doing so would cause a big risk for injury in my body.
But, what if we don’t really worry about injury… what if the sequence is pretty gentle and risk for injury is minimal. Good question! At The Yoga Haven, I continually offer insight for my yoga teachers to consciously be mindful of the students in the room. The vision and mission of this studio is to create an inclusive, student-led experience. Students aren’t coming to a yoga class to watch the teacher practice yoga. Students are coming to a yoga class to be served, nurtured, and cared for in some capacity. If we, as teachers, are so busy moving in our own bodies, there’s no possible way we can be available to students. The art of teaching a yoga class lies in reading bodies in the room and adapting the environment to meet the needs of the students.
Most importantly, demonstration of postures encourages students to create a one size fits all attitude…. and I assure you, in the [asana] yoga practice, one size does. not. fit. all. Are you taking a yoga class to merely put your body into the same shape, look, and space of the person you are watching? How disempowering. All to often, when we demonstrate postures, the intention gets lost. You, as a student, are no longer learning and exploring your own body. You are merely copying and pasting. You are just attempting to make your body do or look like the teacher in front of you. How my body looks from the outside is completely different than how your body looks from the outside; but really, it’s completely different from how your body feels on the inside. If I’m asking you to really explore mind/body connection, allowing you to just listen to what I’m saying instead of copying what I’m doing, it gives you ultimate access to explore YOU. How absolutely incredible is it that we ask you to come to class and be just as you are… we aren’t asking you or guiding you to be anything different. We truly want to empower you to explore and learn your body and how it moves and transforms on any given day.
When you decide to join us at The Yoga Haven, note that you’ll get more than just a class. You’ll get a student-led, inclusive, nurturing experience. I am continually using education to coach our yoga teachers to be trauma-informed and mindful of the differences each and every student might experience, completely eliminating the societal power dynamic and putting the power into the hands of the student. The Yoga Haven is different than traditional yoga class approaches because we truly understand the differences every student has that enters the doors of the studio. So, please know, that when you’re taking our classes you won’t see yoga teachers in the front of the room on the mat for the entire duration of class. You’ll be presented with engaged, caring yoga teachers that have open minds and thrive on feedback to continue to support, evolve, and improve FOR YOU.
