There is much discussion on this forum about finding a proper teacher to aid in your asana. My question is this, I am now in a position due to a recent move of having many teachers at my fingertips, but most don’t even look at their students. They call out postures and I am not their to judge them, what I am looking for is someone to help guide and direct me deeper into my yoga postures.
Is it then prudent for me to continue on with these studios and classes if they are simply calling out the postures? I feel like doing a DVD at home would be the same…
Any thoughts?
as far as judging, I look at it this way. I am not here to judge women, however I will decide the woman I am to be with, same with yoga teachers. if you wish to have a teacher, go until you find one you gell with. I will say this from my experience, the most relaxing classes I ever attended where at the kundhalini yoga center, the teachers never commented on my postures, their instructions were adequate and most everytime I left I felt better many fold then when I came. SOme teachers may fix posture, other teachers may be teaching awareness, other teachers may be doing neither
enjoy
Neil
Judgement is about others. Discernment, a much needed yogic tool, is about you.
It is absolutely imperative for a student of yoga to cultivate awareness such that they can discern what is and is not for their path, their life, the living of their svadharma.
And just as the student must discern, so too must the teacher discern. To me it would be very difficult (nay impossible) to teach without seeing, as that is one of my methods for discerning what is going on in each student’s body. Many teachers look. Their eyes are open but it is obvious they do not see. What is going on in the student’s body is also going on in their breath. What is going on in their breath is also going on in their mind. So I must see AND, even more important, that feedback, that seeing, must result in teaching choices.
For example students not able to bring their thoracic spine into their body in adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog) have no business going up in sirsasana (headstand). Without seeing and responding to the rudimentary action, or lack thereof, how could I possible take the class in the proper direction for them? I couldn’t. Perhaps others can and I’ll leave that to them.
If you were my student asking what you’ve asked I’d say this:
If you are very tuned in to your self then it may be appropriate to move on from the pose-calling folks. If you are not, then perhaps a couple of classes to get a stronger flavor for their teaching before opting in or out. If that is the only way they teach AND that way is not speaking directly to your nervous system, then yes Id’ say it is prudent, for the path of yoga, to look elsewhere.
gordon
Thank you Gordon for taking the time to answer my post. I think ultimately you are correct, I must make this decision for myself. A lesson learned for me (and there are many to be learned these days) is that I am too quick to judge teachers for their teaching style. I will take your advise and perhaps try the classes a few times before making a decision to move on or not.
Ultimately the yoga I practice at home is where I feel most true , but for some reason going to a yoga studio makes me feel connected to other like individuals. With moving to a new community, yoga is the only thing that makes me feel safe and at home.
Thanks for your time.
Some mistakenly think that a group class should feel “the same” as their home practice. When working with a group of others in a way that embraces the three dharmas there is a certain harmony that simply is not the same as one’s home practice. Even when the student(s) in class possesses the ability to become completely alone in that practice.
Of course the corollary is also true. When practicing in a group setting where some of the students do not at all understand the release of their personal dharma for the group dynamic, when practicing with students who focus only on their own cravings and desires, there is discord or disharmony in the practice which the sensitive student can palpate.
A class is in many ways better than unguided home practice. Having a personal instructor is superior to class practice, and finding the one you were destined to meet, even more so. The best one’s I know, InnerAthlete, Pandara, Nichole, they all belong to this latter category. (there are others pesent whom I do not know to this extent, please don’t feel neglected 
)
Judgement is about others. Discernment, a much needed yogic tool, is about you.
When the others are are not others anymore, but other instances of That what you strive to become, than judgement also becomes discernment. You could not teach if you could not take their shoes on. Thus, the teacher has the right to “judge” or discern the most appropriate course of action, simply because he/she is able. Real teachers cannot stop teaching just as the fire can’t stop sharing it’s heat surplus.
To asess the need for a teacher and to realize his/her presence are the two requirements for discipleship.
Yoga this is very cool topic in our dialy life. I feel very cool to do Yoga. Mentally I am releif to do this.