If you say something to someone and they get it totally wrong, you start to question your communication skills. Could you have phrased it differently, did you not speak loud and clear? When you coupled that with a demonstration and it’s still wrong, the doubt creeps in even more. The thing about teaching, if everyone except one person “gets it,” maybe it’s not you. Yes, there are different learning modalities, but overall, when 9 out of 10 get it, you don’t questions yourself…as much.
It’s obvious in an in-person yoga class. If everyone looks confused, it’s you. I taught a yoga master class this weekend. I’d carefully broken down difficult poses with options and modifications. One student consistently did everything a different way, only to eventually end up doing as I instructed.
As a teacher, I love when people are able to master a pose they’ve never attempted or struggled with. You can see and feel that joy of “I did it.” For the stray student, I’m not sure if he was comparing his way with my way or if he observed the success of the other students mastering poses when doing as instructed.
As a teacher, I love when people are able to master a pose they’ve never attempted or struggled with. You can see and feel that joy of “I did it.” For the stray student, I’m not sure if he was comparing his way with my way or if he observed the success of the other students mastering poses when doing as instructed. As a teacher, I have to straddle, teach to the middle and provide options for the extremes, those who are new or injured and those who are experienced and want a challenge.
Two thoughts from this week. First, how are your communications skills? How do you know? How do you get communication feedback? Second, the straddle. What is your middle is, your zone of comfort? Then, when are you at ease, kind of coasting or maybe just recharging? Next, when are you really pushing yourself?
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 