You say yoga is not a part of the world of “fitness”, yet the most commonly practiced form of yoga is asana. The last time I checked, asana is something in which we use the physical body to move, bend, flex, extend and twist. All these things use the precious physical body that even yoga – yes, yoga – can do more harm than good. I think have the reason the yoga community is under so much fire right now and I don’t think the “hyped” reason is the real reason for the manifesting concerns- Is it safe? Is it effective?
Anyone and their auntie are teaching yoga and feel that if they practice kindness (which I do) that is enough (which I don’t agree with). One of my first experiences in yoga I hurt my hamstring in Triangle.
My teacher was what I like to call a Weekend Warrior and didn’t really know much more than her “routine” she did each week. It served a purpose, especially because she provoked me to teach, but she also showed me how not to teach.
The body is intertwined with nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, chakras, organs and on it goes. How can someone directly avoid the obvious that you could make an “issue” in someone’s body worsen in just one pose. That scares me and it should scare others too. I am constantly sharing information with my student in the midst of inspiring, rich in nature spirituality and breath cues to remind themselves that part of being mindful is taking responsibility for your body and bring some awareness to it. And that means that you must know what the heck you are doing to your students; because if you don’t, and they don’t, then who does?
It worries me that when students come to the mat and proclaim that they have been teaching or practicing for X amount of years and then it comes time to start our class, they are the ones I am on top of like a hound dog more than anyone. I worry what else has gone wrong? If they don’t know what they are doing and why, what does that say for those they are teaching? Take students complaining before and after classes about their exasperated issues like it’s the new latte flavor at Starbucks. Never really thinking that, “hey this pain in my butt will never go away if I keep flaring my sitting bones out in Downward Dog, Forward Bend or Straddles”. It’s not uncommon for me to have to even explain what the sitting bones (ischial tuberosities) are and where they are.
This simple awareness can help a class shift their awareness to being more mindful in some of yoga’s “basic” staple postures. These types of discussions should be going on in a yoga class, Pilates class any class. And if your heart is in the right place like you say then you are already on the right track, start learning this stuff so you can really help someone.