Prep Work

Many Auckland studios are now accepting bookings for their teacher training courses taking place next year. Which means an influx of new teachers will eventually be out there in all their glorious just-graduated glow and we yogis get to reap the benefits of their enthusiasm and unwavering desire to make us happy. (I know! It’s a win-win!)

This may not be strictly what it says on the official training programmes (yet) but I’m certain it’s the gist of what those long weeks of late nights, reading, studying, spiritual enlightenment and hard physical labour will be all about.

The Yoga Connection* believes in early intervention. To ensure nothing is left out, that every base is covered and, most importantly, any newbie teachers-in-training understand the significance of making us happy, here are a few gentle reminders that will aid your preparation well in advance:

 

The Imperative Guide for Teacher Training

1. The student is always right. Unless they’re wrong, in which case it is your job to make things right without offending the student. And you always have to speak nice and quietly because we get upset easily.

2. Personally, I love hands-on adjustments and find them incredibly helpful. Some yogis do not. Although they might say they do, and then decide they don’t part way through class. You will need to be able to read their minds to get this right. Or risk being vilified. (Just make sure you keep adjusting me.)

3. You must always behave as if you’re thrilled to see us. Always. Even if we’re grumpy and late. And if we’re excessively early and overly chirpy, same thing. You should practice smiling with your eyes.

4. It’s important you remember every detail of our lives so we can make small talk. Our pet’s names, our food preferences, any allergies and why we really loved the first series of House of Cards but aren’t so sure about that train scene early on in the second.

5. It’s important you remember every detail of our lives so we can have deep and meaningful discussions 10 minutes before class begins. Be prepared for tears.

6. You must always look like a stonking hot yoga teacher. At the same time you must be relatable and make us love you for your personality.

7. You have to be our friend on Facebook and like all our photos on Instagram. Even the ones of our cats.

8. At no time should you feel pressure to make the class too difficult. Take cues from your students. If they are face down in Child’s Pose during a standing sequence, squinting at you with narrowed eyes or just generally lacklustre, then by all means call for a lengthy Savasana. Your students will respect your decision.

9. At no time should you enforce core work on yogis. I’m pretty sure it’s un-yogic.

10. You’ll need to instinctively know what temperature the room should be, what wattage the lights, how open the blinds, and whether the class wants to practice to a background of house music or silence.

11. Every class should include exactly the right inspirational words, at exactly the right time. Be prepared to discuss said words in length following class.

12. Your tone of voice needs to be everything to every person. Think a winning combination of soothing, uplifting, powerful, soft, vibrant, cajoling, directional, authentic, and happy but not too happy. Your job, after all, is to make us happy.

 

The Yoga Connection* took a thoroughly pragmatic approach to The Imperative Guide and considers this a gift to the teacher training groups of 2015, with considerable updates available at a later date. The Yoga Connection* also knows The Imperative Guide will infiltrate your mind over summer and you’ll be putty in our hands post-graduating. Let’s talk closer to the time… Best of luck!

– Jane

*Yes, just covering oneself again. Like a pro.

©The Yoga Connection