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OPEN MIND OPEN BODY Teaching Reflections |
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Before
the First Om
Yoga practice begins the moment a student steps into the classroom. By
creating a welcoming classroom environment and establishing pre-class
rituals, you can set the stage for a powerful and positive yoga
experience.
Imagine the following four scenarios:
1) You walk into yoga class a few minutes early. The lighting is soft, and
the sound of chimes fills the space. Several other students are lying in
savasana, legs draped over a bolster, eyes closed. The teacher sits at her
mat, smiling at you, but remaining silent. You unroll your mat, slip into
savasana, and begin to relax.
2) You walk into class, and the teacher immediately comes over to greet
you and help you set up for practice. She asks you how you are feeling,
and if there is anything going on in your body or your life that might
influence your practice today. You briefly discuss your mild wrist strain.
The teacher then invites you to sit in virasana or sukhasana and begin a
short meditation until class begins. The silence in the room helps you
focus on your breath and notice your current state of mind and body.
3) You walk into yoga class to find a room full of students chatting with
each other. Two students are practicing a partner exercise you learned in
class last week. The teacher is deep in conversation with another student;
both are smiling and laughing. The background music is lively and upbeat,
classical chanting set to a drum beat. You look for a familiar face in the
room, and smile at the thought of the upcoming practice.
4) You walk into yoga class and are greeted by the sound of focused, deep
breathing. Students are in various poses, warming up. The teacher is
stretching at the front of the room. You set up your mat and props and
move into downward facing dog, focusing on the sensation of stretch in
your hamstrings and the quality of your breath.
Which of these scenarios appeals to you most? They may be very different
experiences, but each sets the stage for a powerful and positive practice.
The first scenario encourages students to let go and drop in, by removing
distractions and focusing on physical comfort. The second scenario draws
students immediately into mindfulness, and creates a sense of trust with
the teacher. The third scenario emphasizes the joy of a yoga community,
and prepares students to use the energy of the community to inspire and
support their practice. The fourth scenario invites students to begin
attending to the heart of the practice, observing sensation and breath,
while observing and respecting their individual needs.
How have you set the stage for practice in your own classes? Notice how
you greet students, and notice what your students do in the moments before
class begins. Use the time to check in with regular students and welcome
new students. Or, model a self-guided warm-up or centering by practicing
it yourself.
If you have not established a pre-class ritual, such as savasana,
self-guided stretching, community discussion, or meditation, consider
creating one that best meets the needs of your regular students. The aim
of any pre-class ritual should be to prepare students for the practice,
and to create a distinct and positive environment that students look
forward to. Choose sounds or silence consciously, to complement your
pre-class ritual. Introduce the new ritual to your students; after a
few classes, they will quickly adapt and adopt the ritual as their own.
You will find that more and more students arrive early and regularly, as
your yoga class begins to feel like a home away from home. Return to Teaching Reflections
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