Question:
Hi, I recently started my first teaching job at a local gym/rec center teaching a class 2 nights a week. I took this class over from someone who taught this particular class for many years and had a pretty extensive following. I made sure that I attended at least a month of this teacher's class prior to taking it over so that I could get a feel for his style and see how it would mesh with mine. He communicated that the students were worried about a new teacher that would be vastly different from him. Actually, my style ended up being quite similar to his and I think that I've been able to mesh the two together quite well.
Well, I've been teaching the class for about a month now and I am suddenly being approached by a few students after my class saying that the old teacher used to do this and that a certain way and couldn't I do it that way too. One student in particular takes it upon herself to throw her mat down in front of my mat at the end of class and procedes to show me how the old teacher taught a pose, etc. I've been very open to suggestions and have happily taken some of their thoughts into consideration and have actually adjusted my lesson plans some. The thing is, I'm beginning to fear that this is going to become a regular senario and that they may never be 100% happy. Ie: one student says the music is too loud on the same day that another says it's not loud enough.
So, I am just looking for some advice on how you all handle student complaints about your class and I am also looking for any thoughts about the best way personally for me to handle them.
Well, I've been teaching the class for about a month now and I am suddenly being approached by a few students after my class saying that the old teacher used to do this and that a certain way and couldn't I do it that way too. One student in particular takes it upon herself to throw her mat down in front of my mat at the end of class and procedes to show me how the old teacher taught a pose, etc. I've been very open to suggestions and have happily taken some of their thoughts into consideration and have actually adjusted my lesson plans some. The thing is, I'm beginning to fear that this is going to become a regular senario and that they may never be 100% happy. Ie: one student says the music is too loud on the same day that another says it's not loud enough.
So, I am just looking for some advice on how you all handle student complaints about your class and I am also looking for any thoughts about the best way personally for me to handle them.
Answer:
#1
I'm still a relatively new teacher myself (app 1.5 years); but I encountered an almost identical situation to yours when I first started out. The students going so far as to say, "Can you do bird of paradise like (previous teacher's name)? Well, come on, let's see it." Things were said in a nasty tone, and that surprised me because I thought everyone who practiced yoga would come in to class with openness & light, love & truth in their hearts. Did I ever get a wakeup call!
But among those students who complained, and some left to find an instructor who resonated with them, were students who were appreciative, stayed, and my particular teaching style worked for them. Even some of the initial complainers stuck around & we all got through it.
Now when people complain, which is pretty rare but it does happen, I do take into consideration what they say but still teach the way I teach. If I don't, it isn't genuine, and it comes across as robotic & stilted. Your genuine teaching style will flow. And it will evolve.
Meditation - and I won't go into a long detailed account here - along with my own yoga practice has helped me move towards not attaching my personal emotions/feelings to any complaints that may arise; although I'm not completely there yet, I have to admit . But it has helped, and I don't "carry my classes home" with me like I did in the beginning. That took entirely too much energy better spent on other things. Now I regard their words as "interesting," something I will take into consideration, and move forward, conducting my classes in the best way I can. Any feedback you receive becomes an opportunity to build strength & resolve. Strangely enough, I often now am happy about a complaint because it's fun for me figuring out how I will handle it & how it fits into my life & teaching. I don't want to go off too much of a tangent, but perhaps that may fit in with your situation somehow.
It's been said before that the teacher is the conduit for yoga. Yoga moves through you to the students. We care about the well-being of the students, & it shows to those who choose to see it. The complaints can be steppingstones, helping us evolve into stronger teachers (and students ourselves). Stay true to your genuine style so it continues to resonate with you & you will grow infinitely and have fun doing it.
Just my experience, so far.
#2
Hello Linda.
The answer to this question is found in balancing the following two concepts:
"The teacher of yoga does not sacrifice her truth for that of the student" AND svadhyaya or self-study.
We, as yoga teachers, practice in a certain way, train in a certain way, bring yoga into our selves in a certain way, and embody yoga in our living in a certain way. To forsake this and teach to the "flavor of the day" of the student is to move away from integrity. Moving away from integrity creates disharmony. Disharmony is not yoga. So we stay true to what we are sharing, why we are there, what we have to offer, what our skills and gifts are. Ultimately, when we stay true rather than placating, we direct students to the proper teacher - sometimes it is us and sometimes it is someone else :-)
At the same time this must be countered and balanced by the self-study that allows a teacher to explore and discover themselves and make adjustments where needed. Without knowing the self it would be very difficult to make appropriate choices in line with one's svadharma or life purpose.
Some feedback from students, in addition to the questions we must constantly ask ourselves, can be very helpful in moving us forward as students and teachers of yoga. In this context consider the feedback, then either accept it as a truth for you or not and operate accordingly. But do not become consumed with such things. Consider, decide, act, over.
Your reaction to the student behavior has to be both authentic (meaning absolutely you and radiating from within) and it has to model yoga. So over-reacting in either direction would be out of balance. I'd neither throw a fit nor be completely passive (ends of the spectrum). Listen to them, care about them, but be firm in who you are, what you do, and how you do it.
Permissiveness and hedonism do not deliver freedom and teaching yoga is not about making friends.
The answer to this question is found in balancing the following two concepts:
"The teacher of yoga does not sacrifice her truth for that of the student" AND svadhyaya or self-study.
We, as yoga teachers, practice in a certain way, train in a certain way, bring yoga into our selves in a certain way, and embody yoga in our living in a certain way. To forsake this and teach to the "flavor of the day" of the student is to move away from integrity. Moving away from integrity creates disharmony. Disharmony is not yoga. So we stay true to what we are sharing, why we are there, what we have to offer, what our skills and gifts are. Ultimately, when we stay true rather than placating, we direct students to the proper teacher - sometimes it is us and sometimes it is someone else :-)
At the same time this must be countered and balanced by the self-study that allows a teacher to explore and discover themselves and make adjustments where needed. Without knowing the self it would be very difficult to make appropriate choices in line with one's svadharma or life purpose.
Some feedback from students, in addition to the questions we must constantly ask ourselves, can be very helpful in moving us forward as students and teachers of yoga. In this context consider the feedback, then either accept it as a truth for you or not and operate accordingly. But do not become consumed with such things. Consider, decide, act, over.
Your reaction to the student behavior has to be both authentic (meaning absolutely you and radiating from within) and it has to model yoga. So over-reacting in either direction would be out of balance. I'd neither throw a fit nor be completely passive (ends of the spectrum). Listen to them, care about them, but be firm in who you are, what you do, and how you do it.
Permissiveness and hedonism do not deliver freedom and teaching yoga is not about making friends.
