After completing the Yoga Tune Up® certification course a few weeks ago, my teaching style has changed. I have long been looking for a way to integrate my anatomy background with my yoga in a non-threatening way. 99.9% of people who come to class have very limited knowledge of their own anatomy. What they do know they may have learned in another movement class or from their own studies. But there are also those who do not know the difference between the hamstrings and the quadriceps. There is nothing wrong with this, because why would you know about any of these unless you were dealing with an injury or it was pertinent to your life/job/hobby? The challenge I’ve been working with the last few weeks is how to bring anatomy to the classroom to educate people about their bodies in a functional and integrated way while not scaring off those who know nothing.
It’s a challenge I quite enjoy and it makes me so happy when someone tells me they learned something new in yoga. Our yoga practices should be active adventures, both with the mind and body. Something I’ve noticed over the last few weeks is that more and more, people are asking me about their own physical issues. I should know, right? Because in class I spout all of these fancy Latin terms that most don’t understand. But I am a yoga teacher, not a doctor, and have only been put into the position of advisor because someone thinks I know what I’m talking about.
I do know what I’m talking about 99.9% of the time and will definitely admit when I am wrong, but all of these questions made me wonder about our trust and how we so blindly place it in others. I am honored that people think that I know enough about human movement and anatomy that I can help them overcome their car accident, neck pain, back pain, scoliosis etc.
Who do you trust and why? Is it because of their hardware on the walls? Or have they done something to earn your trust through conversation or action? Can you question the authority of those you trust that are in a position of power? I hope that I create an environment within my classrooms that allow people to feel that they can ask questions or call me out if I’ve said something wrong. Two-way feedback helps both parties in any situation.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t trust anyone, but to just take a moment to think about who you trust and why. Be sure that you trust this person because of their knowledge, background, experience etc, not just because someone else told you to ;)
It’s a challenge I quite enjoy and it makes me so happy when someone tells me they learned something new in yoga. Our yoga practices should be active adventures, both with the mind and body. Something I’ve noticed over the last few weeks is that more and more, people are asking me about their own physical issues. I should know, right? Because in class I spout all of these fancy Latin terms that most don’t understand. But I am a yoga teacher, not a doctor, and have only been put into the position of advisor because someone thinks I know what I’m talking about.
I do know what I’m talking about 99.9% of the time and will definitely admit when I am wrong, but all of these questions made me wonder about our trust and how we so blindly place it in others. I am honored that people think that I know enough about human movement and anatomy that I can help them overcome their car accident, neck pain, back pain, scoliosis etc.
Who do you trust and why? Is it because of their hardware on the walls? Or have they done something to earn your trust through conversation or action? Can you question the authority of those you trust that are in a position of power? I hope that I create an environment within my classrooms that allow people to feel that they can ask questions or call me out if I’ve said something wrong. Two-way feedback helps both parties in any situation.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t trust anyone, but to just take a moment to think about who you trust and why. Be sure that you trust this person because of their knowledge, background, experience etc, not just because someone else told you to ;)
