Rant--Bad Yoga Instructor

[han-grrl]

I just wanted to make a few comments, since I'm a yoga instructor...

starting with corpse pose is not uncommon. I do it sometimes, getting people grounded and to connect with their bodies...but NOT to relax. I cue them to go through their bodies and figure out which parts might need some attention. also sometimes for some breathing exercises.

OMG, puppies and kids into class! Yikes! that's a big no no.

Quality from instructors comes with experience. It took many years to get where I am, and lots of reading and researching. I plan out my classes and have a "cheat sheet" because its very easy to forget your plan while trying to correct postures of your participants. But to bring a book?

i also plan out, believe it or not, what i am going to say, how to cue the relaxing component, and what i want my participants to experience.

Failing to plan is planning to fail. this is my philosophy with pretty much everything.

Sorry to hear about everyone's experiences. I hope no one says that about me!

smile

hannah

[Bad JuJu]

To everyone, but especially han-grrl, I hasten to add that I've had some excellent yoga instruction in my life, and only hope I can find that again.

Re-thinking about my experience last night, my main problems were, of course, the nagging child, but maybe more so, the obvious lack of a plan. I certainly understand that no one is born as a yoga instructor and it takes time and practice to get good at it. But anyone who knows a little something about their discipline can make at least a rudimentary lesson plan. I'm a teacher myself, and I've been teaching for more than 12 years now, but still, I would never go into class without a plan--even if it's just some scribbled notes to help me stay on track.

Bottom line: I adore doing yoga, and yes, I can do it at home, and I would do that, but I'm not knowledgeable and disciplined enough to really challenge myself. So, the search continues..... *sigh*