Confusion - postures different with different teachers

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello everybody.

I’m totally new to yoga, and the more I learn the more questions I have. :wink:

I’m still in the exploration phase, trying different classes with different teachers teaching different styles, but there are two classes that I’ve attended regularly during the last 4 weeks: an intro class with an Iyengar teacher, where one class builds up on the previous one (at a gym); and an open basics class where one can join any time (at a yoga studio, might be Anusara, but I’m not sure, I have to ask).

Both teachers are very patient and helpful, but they seem to teach the same poses differently: e.g. the Iy. teacher has us touch the legs in standing poses such as moutain, chair etc, whereas the other teacher tells us to the have the legs hip-wide;
in the down dog the Iy. teacher has our arms and shoulders in a strong outward rotation (thumbs and index finger in one line as if pressing against a wall); the other teacher has our hands straight, index finger pointing to the front. etc. etc.

I find that quite confusing, cause they each keep correcting me “their” respective way.
I’m not sure how to deal with that situation: adjust the poses to the different classes? find a consistent line, preferring one over the other? I don;t feel knowledgable enough to do that, and I certainly don’t want to offend one one teacher by giving the impression as if I wanted to say: “Teacher x’s method is better than yours.”

Confused greetings,
Anke

#2

This can be a problem of attending different styles one teacher tells you to not strain or meet any resistance another tells you to work on your edges and stay with the posture ,who is right ? well probably both, although I know what facilitates the most profound change for me , but it has taken many years and much practice ,and one day a gentle challenging practice is more appropriate ,another day its a little more full on .
It may not be a difference in styles but a different expression of the pose, for example in your Iyengar class it is clearly stating it is for beginners so the teacher is helping you feel the work in your shoulders by having you turn your hands out ,so that you can feel rotation in your shoulders, as you say,if you go to another level class or perhaps next week you will work with the hands in the more usual position as experienced with the other teacher, but with practice you will undersand the rotation of the shoulders that will bring space and freedom rather than an action that brings misery and bondage.The best thing you can do , in my humble opinion , is do as the teacher asks you and explore your asana in this way,they will hopefully understand what they are trying to impart,some times that will be a full expression of the posture othertimes it may be amending the posture so we can feel certain actions and with said awareness move on to express the asana in its full dimension.
Working in mountain posture with the legs hip width apart will bring certain understandings and stability, working with the legs touching (the full expresion of the pose ) will bring other understandings,It is your practice to bring awareness to what those different expressions of the posture bring to your body , mind and soul.
So to reiterate one is not right or wrong,If the other teacher is anusara,the teaching is basically very similar,in that John friend the founder studied for many years in Iyengar Yoga,and the techniques he passes on in asana seem to be teachings from Mr Iyengar ,the language is a little more flowery, but I suspect after many years you would arrive in a pretty similar expression of the posture, although I am no expert on anusara.
Hope this may go in some small way to clearing any confusion.
You are fortunate to be on the path of yoga happy travels

#3

My yoga teacher says that every teacher will have a different way to teach a pose and no way is right or wrong. And sometimes they teach it differently just to challenge your everyday habits and keep you mindful.

The golden rule of thumb I follow is it shouldn’t be painful. When my teacher makes an adjustment and it hurts my knee I just say so and she gives me an alternative.

#4

Anke,

Confusion of this sort, as Charlie points out, is often the byproduct of too many cooks. Yes every teacher should have their own “ways” or “personality” or “self” in their teaching. However there are some things in the practice which are variances (from style to style) and there are other things that are simply incorrect and dangerous. Which is which??

It is for this reason that the development of discernment is one of the most important abilities for the student of yoga. You will have to feel the teachings and that may take time. Hopefully in the interim you will not be injured but even that is a form of learning on the path - albeit a jarring form.

When a student goes to a class that is choice. As such they are directly and indirectly placing themselves in the hands of the teacher and generally it is best to do as instructed unless you inherently know the instructions are unsafe. Again this is a more mature perspective on the practice.

There is another factor worth illustrating. And that is that some instructions are completely correct for a raw beginner and completely incorrect for an intermediate student. Here once again, the teacher has to be trained well enough to know the difference AND teach in a way that adheres to this principle. Neither can happen when the training is insufficient.

#5

Thanks a lot, guys, that helps!

It’s good to hear that Anusara is very much in the line with Iyengar (yes, I noticed the “flowery” language :wink: ).
Since it is only small differences, I think you’re right and the variations are different expressions of the poses – I didn’t know that was possible, but it makes a lot of sense, esp. in a beginner’s course where one class is built upon the previous one and the students can move on together when they’re ready.

i talk to the teachers next week and ask them about it.

Gordon, you’re addressing an important problem. Among the several classes and teachers I’ve tried out there was one that struck me as unsafe. i hope that my experiences as a former aerobics instructor can help me to avoid unsafe practice and instruction.

#6

My hope is that student will cultivate enough relationship with teachers to make inquiries as to why they are doing this or that. Of course this has to be balanced with the student NOT being totally rooted in mental force AND not asking questions from an intention of challenge.

I think it’s perfectly okay to ask the teacher "why do we do utkatasana with the feet apart?’ or conversely, “why do we do utkatasana with the feet together?”.