{"id":24893,"date":"2024-02-01T16:59:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T16:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogajournal.com\/?p=116848"},"modified":"2024-02-01T16:59:20","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T16:59:20","slug":"12-things-yoga-students-desperately-want-teachers-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/01\/12-things-yoga-students-desperately-want-teachers-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things Yoga Students (Desperately) Want Teachers to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Navigating the nuances of teaching yoga can be an intricate dance. You\u2019re challenged to somehow balance the unique blend of your personal experience and training with your students\u2019 needs and preferences while also addressing those intangibles that create the class experience.<\/p>\n

Being exceptional at it requires many things, including being able to view your class from your students\u2019 perspective. Yoga Journal<\/em> reached out to both beginner and experienced yoga practitioners and asked them what they\u2019d like their yoga teachers to know. Here are the yoga teacher tips they shared.<\/p>\n

12 Yoga Teacher Tips Students Want You to Know<\/h2>\n

The following yoga teacher tips are intended to offer insight into students\u2019 experience. Ultimately, it\u2019s up to each teacher to discern what may be relevant to your situation.<\/p>\n

1. Model, Cue, and Correct<\/h3>\n

It can be easy to assume that everyone in your non-beginner classes knows or remembers what to do in common yoga poses. Yet sometimes students rely on you to remind them of the subtle things, like activating your core<\/a> or tilting your pelvis or keeping some weight in your back foot. Also, several students emphasized how helpful it is for a teacher to demo a pose or the transition into it as well as alignment in the pose.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pop into the occasional yoga class while I travel. Instructors have different styles, and because I don\u2019t practice weekly, I often need a refresher,\u201d says Christine H. of Galveston, Texas. \u201cI like instructors to demonstrate, not just say the pose. And correct me if I\u2019m doing it wrong. It helps me improve and get the most out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Encourage Serenity Before Class<\/h3>\n

While you want your classroom to feel friendly and inviting, it can be distracting when students engage in small talk before class. \u201cRecently, the students in my class were chatting like it was social hour. I prefer to use the time before class starts to begin centering myself and find my breath. I literally could not hear myself think,\u201d notes Shanna S., of Ely, Iowa. \u201cI\u2019d like instructors to take charge of their studio and ask for respect in what should be a quiet space.\u201d Many teachers ask students to limit chatting to the lobby to ensure a serene environment.<\/p>\n

3. Promote Timeliness<\/h3>\n

Being late happens. But starting class late or repeatedly allowing chronic stragglers to noisily enter the studio<\/a> after the scheduled start time is disrespectful to everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unfair to students who make it their business to be on time for class,\u201d notes Jennifer B., of  Orlando, FL. \u201cI know this sounds unkind, and exceptions can be made. But for repeat offenders, it\u2019s an opportunity to have a conversation about yoga etiquette.\u201d If you experience repeat latecomers, consider taking a moment after class to remind them of the need for timeliness or ask the studio manager to do so.<\/p>\n

4. Be Mindful of Volume (Your Own and Your Music)<\/h3>\n

If your voice is low, your music is blasting<\/a>, or some of both, this affects your students\u2019 ability to hear you. And being unable to distinguish cues or what pose comes next requires students to scan the room for clues and engage the thinking process that they\u2019re so desperately trying to leave behind during yoga.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak loud enough that everyone can hear\u2014especially people in the back of the studio,\u201d notes Italia E., Winter Springs, Florida. Of course, you don\u2019t want to shout and kill the vibe, but pay attention if you see students looking around or missing transitions.<\/p>\n

\"Students
Sometimes the most helpful thing you can offer students while they\u2019re in a pose is silence. (Photo: Thomas Barwick | Getty )<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Know That We Don\u2019t Need Constant Narration<\/h3>\n

While providing guidance, setting intentions, and cueing students<\/a> play essential roles in fostering a positive experience, sometimes less is more when it comes to speaking.\u201cMy top annoyance is yoga teachers talking constantly through practice. I need time to be and breathe during class,\u201d says Debbie A., of Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

6. It\u2019s Okay to be Human<\/h3>\n

Students appreciate when teachers own up to their imperfections. \u201cI love when yoga teachers laugh at themselves<\/a> when they forget to do a side or fumble their words rather than trying to pretend nothing happened and hoping no one noticed,\u201d admits Olivia W. of Greensboro, North Carolina. \u201cIf there\u2019s anywhere I would hope people feel comfortable in their imperfect humanity, it\u2019s with a yoga community!\u201d Pro yoga teacher tip: It\u2019s okay to be human.<\/p>\n

7. Don\u2019t Rely Exclusively on Sanskrit, Please<\/h3>\n

While the use of Sanskrit respects the tradition of the practice, relying on it exclusively can confuse students who are unfamiliar with it. \u201cIt can be disheartening to students trying to destress from the workday,\u201d says Tia D. of Boston, Massachusetts, who prefers teachers who also cue the English name and instructions on how to come into it.<\/p>\n

\"Students
There are going to be differences in the pacing at which students come into poses. But if many students lag pose after pose, perhaps it\u2019s time to lessen the intensity. (Photo: Thomas Barwick | Getty )<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Watch Us<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a lot to juggle in each moment of a class. And if you\u2019re new to teaching, simply recalling your sequence without leaving anything out can feel momentous. Yet there are other nuances as well. \u201cI wish that yoga teachers knew how to regulate the intensity and pace of the class and the heat in the room,\u201d says Cortney S., Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, navigating the temperature of a studio and adjusting sequencing on the fly isn\u2019t always taught in yoga teacher training. But it should be. If you notice students struggling to keep up with the flow or look lost in class, perhaps it\u2019s time to slow things down or offer alternate ways to approach a pose. And before teaching at any studio, make sure you ask how to adjust the thermostat and fans to try to keep the temperature from becoming uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

9. We Don\u2019t Expect You to Know Everything<\/h3>\n

It can be exhilarating when students look to you for answers. Yet know where your expertise ends. You are, after all, human.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven I fall into that trap as a yoga teacher,\u201d shares Liza C., NY. \u201cWhen you force the image that you\u2019re an all-knowing yogi, it minimizes the opportunity for a bond to be built through learning. One of the joys of being a teacher is learning from your students\u2014what works for them, what doesn\u2019t work, and what questions you may not have even thought of!\u201d<\/p>\n

Also, it is never your responsibility to answer students\u2019 questions about physical aches and pains. Come up with a standard response<\/a> that works for you to use in response to questions you don\u2019t feel comfortable so that you aren\u2019t caught by surprise. Keep it simple and straightforward, such as \u201cI don\u2019t know. I suggest you consult with your physician.\u201d<\/p>\n

10. Keep Us in Savasana Longer, Please<\/h3>\n

Most teachers tell students that Savasana plays an essential role in a yoga practice, serving as a period of integration that allows the body and mind to absorb the benefits of the physical and mental work. An unrushed Savasana offers exactly that.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease add more time! A three- to five-minute Savasana is not long enough,\u201d suggests Monica L., of El Paso, Texas. \u201cIt\u2019s so frustrating not being able to get a good relaxation after class.\u201d Hearing people rush out of the room isn\u2019t exactly restorative either, she adds.<\/p>\n

When the sequence takes longer than expected, it\u2019s common for teachers to cut into the time they\u2019d allowed for the final resting pose. Please don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

11. Give Us Attention After Class<\/h3>\n

Connecting with students as they put away props or linger in the lobby helps cultivate a welcoming vibe for students to ask questions.\u201cI\u2019ve had wonderful experiences with most yoga teachers who are willing to chat about that day\u2019s class at the end,\u201d offers Jacqueline D., of Exeter, Ontario. \u201cI find that to be lovely and connecting. It often opens up dialogue that can be continued into future classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, you may have another class to teach across town in half an hour or want to maintain proper student-teacher boundaries with extra-chatty students. But a little extra attention can go a long way.<\/p>\n

12. Know That You Make a Difference<\/h3>\n

You likely hear a lot of requests, complaints, and suggestions as well as yoga teacher tips from students, as if you\u2019re a short-order cook. It can be easy to twist this into the story that you\u2019re not doing anything right. But when you share yoga, others will respond.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoga teachers have indirectly helped me heal from breakups, deaths, and daily pressures,\u201d says Annie V., of Miami, Florida. \u201cWhen my 15-and-a-half-year-old dog Elmo passed in August, that hit me hard. I spiraled into a deep state of grief, not wanting to do anything. One day, I showed up for a yin yoga class and it gave me a gentle, safe space to move and cry without judgment. I kept showing up. It gave me strength to get out of bed and start to heal.\u201c<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"12<\/figure>\n

A glimpse at some of the things your students wish they could tell you\u2026but don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

The post 12 Things Yoga Students (Desperately) Want Teachers to Know<\/a> appeared first on Yoga Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[37,35,36],"class_list":["post-24893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ayurveda","tag-blogs","tag-yoga","tag-yogacourseware"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}