Am I in the wrong here?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

My yoga teacher and I have become casual friends over the past year, but lately she was a bit hostile in classes because I admittedly don’t make the right moves all the time (what she says is confusing sometimes).

I told her this, but then she seemed surprised because she said she was stern only because she wanted to improve my health (well this is one of the benefits of yoga) and she cares about her students’ safety. But then she said in class that if I don’t make the right moves, she will correct me harshly and the other student will laugh at me. So I thought “if we’re friends, how come you’re doing this?”

She seemed apologetic, but then was this a bad exchange? I think I have a tendency to perceive actions that are not real (say of others’ behaviour), so am I in the wrong here? I don’t usually care what others think of me, but then will she think I’m weird now?

#2

  1. [B]There are no “right” moves[/B]. There are alignments and there are actions. If you are not aligned then safety is sacrificed. The lack of alignment is either due to the choice of style (not an alignment-based practice) or to confusion in the instruction process - be it sender or receiver.

  2. [B]Hostility has no place[/B] in the imparting of yoga, period. For a teacher to be hostile, especially in class, is to be completely unprofessional, poorly trained, or both.

  3. [B]Stern would have to be defined[/B] for me to comment on it at length. However “stern” does not facilitate health. It is not a requirement for moving toward well being or maintaining it.

  4. [B]Caring about the safety of students is completely appropriate[/B] and required. Proper instruction, appropriate style, and compassionate approach is what champions safety in asana.

  5. [B]Empowering and uplifting students[/B] is the job of a yoga teacher and we never do something that will cause the student to shrink. Therefore, there is no room for harsh correction and a threat of being laughed at. The practice space is a safe space and that too is the job of the teacher - to hold the space so it is safe for everyone in the room.

#3

Harsh, hostile and bully are never words you should equate with your yoga instructor. It appears this instructor is not respecting that this is YOUR practice, not hers. There are no wrong moves in yoga as long as you are being lead by the breathe and your intention. As long as you know why you are doing something then you’re practicing correctly. That is not to say that subtle adjustments to keep the body safe and in the correct alignment aren’t necessary, they are. However, a student should never be called out or told they will be humiliated. This kind of action has no place in the practice of yoga. You should always leave feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually better then when you arrived. If your instructor is unable to provide a safe, nurturing and encouraging environment for you to achieve this, unfortunately, it might be time to explore other teachers. Remember: this is your experience and you shouldn’t let others influence you in negative ways. Yoga should be a practice of empowerment and celebration- it should not be used as any sort of punishment. You know you and what you need better than anyone. Listen and trust yourself.

#4

Hi,

I experienced something similar. The yoga teacher made strange comments and harsh critice, also motivated the students to laugh about each other. These comments were not even mainly critic about me, but about several students. But I found the atmosphere very bad because of that - and I changed the teacher.

I have to say I am very happy about this. I think yoga should be in a “safe space” and yoga teachers should make their students feel accepted, safe and knowing they and their bodies are “okay”. Actually I think this is what yoga is about!

#5

I believe there’s at least a partial “other side” and I say this having already shared my initial thoughts above.

When I, as a student, come in to a new class, a class I am attending for the first time (assuming it is not a prep class or the like) there exists the possibility of a pre-existing culture - students who are regular, who know each other, who are known by the teacher, etc. In those situations I think it’s best not to base opinions on one go. You never know what you just walked in to.

That is not to say “tolerate inappropriate behavior”. It IS to say “make sure you understand enough to discern what is not appropriate”.

#6

Yes I agree but I also think as a yoga teacher you should realize what atmosphere you create for all if you make harsh critique comments, or even more comments judging the body of one of the students. I think even if for this particular student its okay (as they may have a special kind of relationship) I still dont want to be in a class like that. It is definitely not the kind of atmosphere I want to practice Yoga in. But this is just me of course :slight_smile:

#7

Yes we agree then.

In my second post above (and now again here) I am NOT referencing inappropriate behavior, harsh commentary, or an unwelcoming environment in the classroom.

Teachers should a) be acutely aware of the environment they are setting and it should be a safe place for students in all senses of the word. That having been said, no matter how safe the teacher may make it people still have their gook and some may not “feel” safe regardless.

Example, if I may. New student. Basic hip series in class. Supta Padangusthasana, lg in the air - safest of hamstring openers … done even with the most basic of students with no previous practice required. And yet I’ve witnessed students screech out “ow ow ow” and claim the teacher “made me hurt myself”. This is not a teaching issue, though it’s helpful for teachers to be aware of it.

Second example … in my Level I classes I have students attend who’ve been coming to the studio for YEARS! They simply don’t want to go to a II, or it’s not timely for them or they want to be in my class or whatever. So they are welcomed. And they need to be taught too. With new students I rarely, if ever give them adjustments. But with these veteran students I know their bodies and they know me and so they can not only receive an adjustment but sometimes a deep one. And this appears odd to a new student. “Why is he touching students?”

So what I am saying is “absolutely do not take mistreatment” and “absolutely make sure you know what you are talking about before tarnishing the teacher”.

#8

Yes true, thanks for sharing the point of view of a teacher :slight_smile: