1. When your teacher sees you struggling, she remembers what it was like when she first struggled with that pose, too. You might not get permission to come out of the pose early, but your teacher is oozing with compassion for you and hoping you will learn the same lessons from it that she did.
2. Though yoga teachers do get a crash course in anatomy, injuries are probably not your teachers forte unless he has experienced that injury at some point himself. It’s your responsibility to take care of your body and make sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard.
3. By trade your yoga teacher is probably not a comedian. She tries her best to entertain you during class and tells all her best jokes. She really wishes you’d at least give her a courtesy chuckle—even when she’s not funny.
4. Unless your teacher is a special case, he’s probably not making much money teaching. Instead, he’s sharing his knowledge with you because he loves yoga and he wants to share it. He deserves your respect and appreciation.
5. Your teacher may appear nearly perfect to you—perfect poses, perfect body, or dazzling personality—but she’s struggling with her own issues, trust me! We all find yoga because we need it. We’re all human. And we all have faults—many faults.
So, how about it, teachers? What else do you wish your students knew?
First – I completely agree with the courtesy chuckle. I mean… come on!
Other things I'd add to my list:
You're not the first person to cry and it's ok.
Falling asleep during savasana is ok – just don't make a habit of it.
It really is ok to rest sometimes.
As yoga teachers – we get hurt on occasion too. and that doesn't make us any less of a teacher.
Number 3 made me laugh out loud! I try so hard to make them laugh…just a little tiny chuckle pleaseeeeee!
It's OK to not like a pose – but you should still work on it (or its modification) because there's something to learn from it.
I don't like Utkatasana, by the way.
great post as always maybe one these days I will fulfilled my dream to become a teacher
#1 thing I wish my students knew:
I MEAN it when I say to do whatever is right for your body. That is not code for "you aren't good enough unless your hand is on the floor."
we love to get feedback on what works and what doesn't work. it is impossible to read students via their faces b/c some are serious and focused and look mad. (but aren't). so share what you love and don't love. even though the teacher is teaching… it really is YOUR yoga practice. Help him or her make it the best.
You guys are so awesome… and I agree with all of your additions to my list! 🙂
my addition: that my students are also my teachers. i learn from their practice and their bodies, too!
Concerning that picture. That girl has her head so far past her knees, not only could she grab her feet she could probably grab the ass of the person on the mat ahead of her.
Number 1 and 5 are the ones I try to remind students of the most. That we are all human and that my practice has taken time to get here..and the work is never done.
I love this. Thank you so much for this post!!
http://www.yogaclasschicago.blogspot.com
Also Please don't apologize to your teacher for not being flexible. Flexibility is just one thing that you may gain from yoga and a good teacher does not have a problem teaching someone with any level of flexibility.
Yes! Yes! Yes!