Don’t Listen To The Teacher
Last night an old friend of mine stopped my Pilates studio on her way home from work. I had a free hour in between clients so it was a welcomed surprise.
What wasn’t so pleasant was the awful story she told about her yoga class from the night before. Apparently, she had issues with this teacher in the past and the previous night just topped it off.
You see my friend is that kind of person that follows exactly what the teacher tells her to do. This is why she joined a gym. She needs to be told what to do, otherwise it won’t get done.
Enter, Mr. Yoga Man Teacher Guru that all the ladies…and men, bow down to. It’s my understanding that this teacher likes to not only flaunt his talents, but expects that the people in his intermediate class do the same. If they can’t mr. guru guy verbally pushes and pushes until they cave. After the poses, he’ll remark generally to the class about those that backed off of fully embracing his yoga man dictate.
First thing my friend should have done before the tears came into her eyes from feeling chided is pick up her mat and leave. Bye- Bye. She thought about it, but quickly dismissed it.
That would signify a weakness in her mind. What would the yoga guru think?
Be aware of the number one sign of a good teacher.
That teacher encourages that you listen to yourself first, not to him, not to her.
As a teacher, inspiration is one thing. Expecting everyone to be at your level without helping them be aware of themselves is dangerous. It’s dangerous because students, like my friend, will try to please and/or compete. It’s a vulnerable space. Soon after, injury sets in. Then another. Before you know it your fabulous flexibility is compromised because you went way beyond your ability without consideration to the self.
Listen to the lead of a teacher who is instructing you with careful and foremost consideration to yourself. There is hardly a person that I teach that is issue free. It doesn’t matter if it’s something as simple as ‘when I do this my pinky toe pinches’. Be aware of that. Not paranoid. Aware.
It’s self awareness that will carry you through anything that you desire.
Self awareness gives you the choice to check in with yourself as you listen to the teacher/trainer/guru that is guiding your session.
Even better is a self aware teacher.
Someone who creates a space that is so safe to be in because the first thing they teach is to listen to yourself.
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