Don’t worry Pandara. We kick bud ! 
I was your student. Hell, I probably still am in many ways and just don’t realize it.
When I first began yoga, I was driven by an enormous ego and a past that shaped how I performed my asana. “No pain, no gain” was my mantra. And holy crap was I unhealthy. I was dead on the inside.
Lucky for me I had a teacher who was incredibly patient with me and showed me what true love is. She held up a mirror so that I could see who I was and the damage my actions were causing because all the words in the world would not reveal such truths; I had to connect to it myself.
Be the mirror. How you would be the mirror for the student is the hard part and I have no answers for you there.
[QUOTE=David;24392]I was your student. Hell, I probably still am in many ways and just don’t realize it.
When I first began yoga, I was driven by an enormous ego and a past that shaped how I performed my asana. “No pain, no gain” was my mantra. And holy crap was I unhealthy. I was dead on the inside.
Lucky for me I had a teacher who was incredibly patient with me and showed me what true love is. She held up a mirror so that I could see who I was and the damage my actions were causing because all the words in the world would not reveal such truths; I had to connect to it myself.
Be the mirror. How you would be the mirror for the student is the hard part and I have no answers for you there.[/QUOTE]
I could cosign this:)
Without reading all the other replies, these words come to mind…"you are welcome to come to class if you are able to respect the other people in the classroom. " This behavior sounds very disrespectful to both you and the others Pandara. Every day on our mats is different and focusing on the abilities of the others totally defeats the purpose of coming to our mats. A difficult situation for sure, but after 2 years kind words don’t seem to be doing the job.
Best of luck!
Dear All,
A few weeks have now passed since my first post here. Said student didn’t arrive for class in the week after this post. However, she did pitched for class last week. Fortunately very early and we had a good chat before any of the other people arrived.
A few things transpired from that:
I explained to her how I was taught by my teacher and that this style demands a slow progression and stability in other asanas before I can move the student to more challenging asanas.
Secondly I asked her to give me a chance to teach her properly and part of that is patience and compassion towards her own body from her side. She did explain that she comes from a fiercely competitive house and that it is difficult for her not to be in competition with everybody else in the class including me as teacher. We made this a challenge for her to tone the competitiveness down a little and to rather find that which inspires her, in other words not what her parents wanted her to be, but what would she like to be, how would she like to be. It turned out not so competitive. I think this is going to be a huge field of evolution for her in the months to come.
During the class she was much more co-operative and willing to give me a chance until I could get to her and help her to modify her asana to suit her body and level of flexibility.
So overall I think all went well, I think the fact that I was calm and understanding helped her a lot and I look forward to move her forward in her practice. I think our one-to-one session which was totally unplanned and just happened was the solution here.
Thanks again to all for your replies, trust that my reply my help you.
He, he! That’s great!!!
Brilliant. So (once again…) the solution lies in taking your heart in your hands and speaking your truth, gently but clearly.
your the man brother
good , Pandara finally you have moved a hard rock with your soft heart
A true teacher is always guided by the divinity within to show the path of getting the field ready by the practice of different steps of yoga in co-ordination as to sow the seed of realisation and liberation.