What makes a good yoga instructor?
I think I posted about this a while ago, yet it’s a question that stays on my mind (probably because I’m an instructor). I recently realized that the answer to this question, for me anyway, comes down to one thing. What makes a good (or great) yoga instructor is the instructor who is in it for the students.
I’ve noticed in my experience that a lot of instructors think that by teaching they still get to practice. Certainly throughout class we demonstrate new poses, but is that really a practice? Perhaps it’s a different type of practice - consider it a practice of giving and sharing rather than physical. A personal asana (or physical posture) practice is about focusing on one’s own mind and body. As an instructor we cannot do that, our focus must be on the students. As an instructor we are there to guide students through the postures, provide them instruction to ensure a safe and effective practice, motivation, encouragement and inspiration.
Not that long ago I took a class and the instructor practiced with us. What bothered me was that every time she said “great job everyone.” or “nice poses” I looked at her and she had her eyes closed! So how did she know what we were doing? She was in her own practice and saying what she thought needed to be said as the instructor. For the entire hour I never felt that she was connected to the class.
When I think about the great classes I’ve been to, they are great because the instructor was there for the students. The instructor was there to teach, not practice. I felt connected and cared for and that’s a great feeling to have in a yoga class.
When you think about the classes you’ve taken - what makes them great or not so great?
I feel the same way about a good yoga teacher. I know that I always appreciate having the instructor come up and make gentle adjustments to my pose, since I’m not looking at myself in a mirror.
I’ve also been in a class with people who had never done yoga, and obviously needed assistance but the instructor was just up in the front doing her thing. At the same studio, a different instructor in another class did get up after demonstrating the pose to make adjustments and offer modifications to those who needed it.
For me, those adjustments and reminders are why I go to a class, as opposed to just practicing at home with a CD or DVD.