Thursday, April 07, 2011

Addendum - The forgotten lesson in your teacher training program.


One of the most important lessons that you, as a yoga teacher, need to learn is the ability to interpret and understand exactly what the student is trying to tell you. Because of the general feel-good, touchy-feely, groovy, non-judgmental, always-be-positive aspect of yoga, the student frequently slips into yoga ‘all-is-good’ speak which makes it hard to understand what the student is really trying to tell you. Here are some common phrases you will hear in a yoga class from your students translated to plain speech:

When the student says – They mean

Your class is interesting – blecchh

That was a challenging class – it really got on my nerves

You really know a lot about yoga – you’re old

Your classes are so popular – It sucks being 3 inches away from the people next to me

Your class is amazing – I have no clue what else to say

It's so great how comfortable you are with your body – you’re fat

I love your class – can I go now

There’s an article coming out about you in Yoga Journal? - Who are you having sex with there

How cool you do yoga all the time – I’m sorry you are unemployed

You really explain yoga in depth – zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Your style of yoga is so dance like – wow, it's true that white girls can't dance

There’s a real consensus about your class – we all hate it

We should definitely get together – hopefully we never will