We are all the same, yet we are very different.
Our bodies are different shapes and sizes- our bones were built differently.
And we are not symmetrical in our own bodies. It seems like the left and right sides of our body mirror each other, but they dont, at least not perfectly.
This is why it’s important to modify your yoga practice to fit your own individual needs.
Early in the lineage of yoga teachers, private lessons (one-on-one) were more common, which seems to make sense considering we are all unique students.
But there is also something so magical- so spiritual- about practicing yoga with a community of other people. We influence each other's transformation.
When you train to become a yoga instructor, initially you are given rules, or rather ‘templates’ to adjust a student into alignment (proper posture), which is necessary to teach a safe, skillful class. This was at least my experience in the Yogaworks 200 hour training. In Yogaworks sequencing, specific postures come before others and certain postures are paired for a well balanced sequence (set of postures). For example: externally rotated standing postures (i.e.warrior II) are initially more accessible to the student than asymmetrical neutral postures (i.e. High Lunge or “Anjaneyasana.”) This is anatomically true and energetically relevant.. in other words.. how can you hold yourself up-right easiest, and then how/when do you challenge yourself to try something more advanced.
I am now in my 300 hour training with Yogaworks and I find that a huge focus is observing each student individually and offering them a unique experience. Sometimes that means disregarding the original template and adjusting alignment according to the individual students’ needs.
I teach about 10 classes a week with about 10 students per class. This means I'm sharing a unique experience with about 100 students per week. Some students are injured or pregnant. Some students are just “Stiff Biff" or “Bendy Wendy,” as my mentor Camille Moses-Allen would say.
Part of refining myself as a teacher, is learning how to make my class accessible to each individual student.
When you are in a public class, it's important to listen to the teachers cues and to try their alignment. But don't forget to listen to your own inner teacher as well. First you try, then you refine.
When I listen to my inner voice during my own practice- when I learn how unique my body truly is- I become a better student and a better teacher.
I am compassionate towards all students- whether they loved my sequence or not- because they showed up to share an experience with me.
I try my best to offer modifications for each student-
But the moment that matters most is at the end of the class
When Stiff Biff and Bendy Wendy say Namaste.
Thank you
