Advice about student complaints/suggestions

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.

Answer:

#1

Hi, Linda --

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.

Yoga classes planning

Question:


How far in advance do you have your classes planned?
Do you have an idea of how you want to develop your students through months of classes?
Or do you teach what you have been working on in your on practice.
It seems that teachers of a fixed series wouldn't have to worry about that as much, whereas teachers working in a quarter or semester type package of classes would lean heavily towards more of a syllabus, if you will.
Having a set syllabus for teaching would almost necessitate a set syllabus for practice...
what do you do?

---

Answer:


do you ask students what they want to work on?

Anyways - I suppose this is different based on the lineage, teacher and teachers experience.

In my lineage I observed a group class today by a senior teacher (therapeutically trained.) At the beginning of class she asked what they would like to work on. Someone said feet (she had recently had feet surgery.) Another said upper back - sits at a computer all day. Another said she was feeling mentally blocked. This teacher designed a practice on the fly that based on my observation and the comments of the students after the class met the needs of those students.

That being said she has taught for more than ten years - and this same group of students have been attending her classes for years.

I'm only half way through a 500 hour teacher training program but have started teaching two hours a week. I'm not ready to ask students what they want to work on. So I write out a lesson plan. I talked to my mentor about this - he said - just don't get too attached to it. I've noticed that I generally base the next weeks plan on what I observed the previous week. Not ideal - but it keeps me responding to the students.

Dhanurasana your location says you are in Bellingham, Wa. There are senior teachers from the Desikachar/Krishnamacharya lineage in your area. Abby Stalen and Ann Rogers teach at Everybody's Yoga. I think you might want to check them out.

Another thing that is different about this lineage is that asanas are not necessarily held statically. And a student's request might not be addressed through asana - but pranayama and chant might be used. Along with other tools - particularly if working one-on-one.

Aahh - such a long response. But really what it would be interesting to know - is what you were taught in your teacher training and whether you have an on-going relationship with a teacher/mentor to work with.

Men in my yoga classes

Women like classes more than men as many men prefer to work out by themself. Women really are more social.

Men do not like to do something new that is unfamiliar, especially where good looking women can do it better than they can. Men genetically need to look physically strong and competent to women as well as to other men.

Many yoga classes are taught by women for women. Men do not (generally) want to do things like tuck their tummy or sculpt their butt. If you throw in some chatarungas, most men will not object to the hip opening. I think that it is important to include poses that are challenging as well as poses that are easy for all students. These are often different because of gender, as well as many other factors. Many yoga classes are taught by white women for white women and there is often a lack of men and other races because they feel excluded. This has nothing to do with Yoga, but rather with the teacher's paradigm or training.

Many yoga teachers' classes are filled with crystals, chakras, chanting, incense, and a variety of New Age hocus pocus that some women like, but most men try to avoid whenever possible.

Many men (and women) cannot think outside the cultural stereotypes that say that men should be strong and women should be flexible. We do not yet have a strong cultural stereotype that says both men and women need a balance of strength and flexibility, because neither is worth very much without the other. Frankly, most men need yoga and most women need weight training instead of the other way around.

My classes are more physical than verbal and men often prefer this. If the class is more athletic, it will attract more men as well as the more athletically inclined women. This also appeals to women who have lost their youthful athleticism, as they see it returning with practice and enjoy both the increased energy as well as the relaxation.

Many men have not yet figured out that there are a great variety of Yogas out there and if they were to look around a little, they would see that there is probably something that fits their unique needs pretty well.


Most of the men in my classes come for one or more of the following reasons:

Their wife or girl friend made them. Many really like it and keep coming even if the wife/girl friend stops.

They realize that stress is killing them and have heard that yoga is good for stress and are willing to give it a try.

They have back pain and have heard that yoga can help.

An athletic coach or health care professional recommended it.

They see other men that they know and/or respect doing it.

They have been doing yoga somewhere else for a while and are familiar with the benefits.

Yoga teacher ethics

Yoga teacher ethics should be thoroughly covered in all Yoga certification programs. With the current laws about harassment, all Yoga teachers, and anyone who works with the public, should beware.

The less said, in your Yoga class about trivial matters, the better. Your personal beliefs should not be part of the Yoga class lesson plan.

Just like many Yoga teachers often say to their students, “Stay in the moment.” Within your class, “it’s all about Yoga” and anything else beyond that can be open to misinterpretation. Walk the middle path, be mindful, avoid extremes, show loving kindness, and maintain a standard of professionalism within all of your Yoga classes.

Communication should be clear at all times. You must demonstrate, communicate verbally, and assist, if you have permission to do so. Always ask permission before making a physical assist during Asana practice.

Chakras are the energy centers of the physical and energy body. Yoga teachers know about balancing and cleansing them. Most Yoga teachers are familiar with the seven main Chakras, but there are more. Chakra balancing and Chakra clearing are safe practices for Yoga teachers who have been trained to perform these methods.

However, no one should play with “Chakra Awakenings,” with out guidance from a Guru. Most Gurus will frown on the idea of Chakra Awakening techniques; since these are considered unsafe short cuts.

Bandhas are the many locks, but Hatha Yoga teachers should know Mulha Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, and Jalandhara Bandha very well. These are the three main Bandhas.

Mudras are gestures and they are often integrated with specific Pranayama techniques for healing. Not all Mudras are performed with the hands. In Sanskrit Mudra means “seal.” There are many Mudras and learning this is part of a Hatha Yoga teacher’s continuing education.

Kriyas or Shatkarmas are the six hygienic “deeds” or “actions.” A Yoga teacher should be clean in mind, body, and spirit. Every Hatha Yoga teacher is familiar with these six Kriyas.

Meditation is a part of each form of Yoga. It is a tool for clearing, calming, and focusing your mind, but there are also many methods of meditation. Each path of meditation leads to tranquility. All Yoga teachers should practice meditation twice per day. Guiding Yoga students is one thing, but a Yoga teacher’s meditation practice should be regimented.

A Yoga teacher should also be familiar with relaxation methods, specially, stage-by-stage relaxation. This relaxation method should be practiced privately, and Yoga teachers should make their students familiar with this technique.

With all of the above points mentioned, you can now see why the jump from Yoga student to Yoga teacher will take some time and serious practice.

Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org