What should I have done

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

There’s a yoga class that costs AU$2 where I take beginners to, that want to try it out

Anyway last night the yoga instructor didn’t turn up, as she has a infected eye and the class was taken by the dance instructor who does the previous class. She usually participates in the yoga class after taking her dance class.

The dance instructor wanted me to come up on the stage with her, but I declined, I understood her wanting someone to give her support but the reality is that I am not registered or insured but I felt bad about that because I understood that she needed support, she really didn’t know what she was doing.

Did I do the right thing or the wrong thing?

#2

Mike,

I don’t think anyone can say what you did was right or wrong.

I would like to express and opinion and it is not in judgement of you but rather of how the system has developed. It makes me sad that yoga in the West has developed to a point where someone who probably knows more than the person teaching the class was actually too scared to co-teach and assist, thereby effectively robbing the people in the class of a good opportunity to learn from that person.

Personally, I think occasionally one can throw some of the caution in the wind and teach a very basic and safe class without risking any repurcusions in terms of insurance or the fact that you are not registered. Also you may have opted to assist from the floor, thereby not risking too much as well.

#3

no need to have concious burden on the act of urself , u refused with ur own rational behind i beleive she will understand.

Ur center is really irresponsible to just arrange someone handy to lead the class .What if accident happened

#4

Dear Pandara

Sorry i am holding different view due to my encounter before .

Few yesrs back my master has a very successful business ( few centers in different districts ) he used to late for class 30 mins and he’s habitually arrange some one handy to lead the class ( not teacher ) before he turn up , one time a TTC student act as tutor to practise forward bending and she pressed one student more forward and down , it’s over done then hurt other’s spine on sport.

The shadow too huge that I never attend non qualified teacher’s lecture.

#5

[quote=tina;20397]Dear Pandara

Sorry i am holding different view due to my encounter before .[/quote]

Dear Tina,

Please no need to feel sorry because you hold a different view, that is why this is a Forum so that all can express their views. Your view is as valid as mine or anyone else’s view and no need to ever apologise for that, no matter how different it is.

Also I didn’t direct any critic against you so no need to apologise. :slight_smile:

#6

[quote=tina;20397]Dear Pandara

Sorry i am holding different view due to my encounter before .

Few yesrs back my master has a very successful business ( few centers in different districts ) he used to late for class 30 mins and he’s habitually arrange some one handy to lead the class ( not teacher ) before he turn up , one time a TTC student act as tutor to practise forward bending and she pressed one student more forward and down , it’s over done then hurt other’s spine on sport.

The shadow too huge that I never attend non qualified teacher’s lecture.[/quote]

I’m not certified to teach in the US, so I encounter the same conundrum that you do. I have been in classes a few times where un-knowing teachers did physical assists on people that I worried me to watch, often without even asking permission before touching that person, who they had never met before! I have also witnessed trained people teaching poses for people who were not ready for them, without a good explanation of how to enter the pose, and saw them get hurt. These things all happened in the last week, if that gives you any indication.

For the few classes I have taught here, or to individuals, it is always worked out fine to do a simple set of asana and pranayama (all things that I am very comfortable with teaching, of course), and never do physical assists. I stress always that the practitioner do not push themselves too hard, do not go beyond their limits, that pain should not be felt, that ideally we should focus more on the calming the beath while staying in a pose and to come out if it becomes difficult. I offer the availability of harder poses that I am also comfortable with, if they would like to progress further.

Well professionally educated or not, you won’t forsee the accident that could happen, but it will help to you be able to explain things verbally, cautiously, observantly, and with full awareness of who you are teaching to.

Hope that helps. :slight_smile:

#7

Mike,

the decision(s) of “what to do” are based only on your dharma, and of course any responsibilities you’ve already accepted through previous actions.

When we look inside ourselves and opt not to heed the agenda of the mind and the agenda of the vital, we are then guided by the heart. That is the way to live in harmony and integrity as a person on the path of yoga.

My dharma in that situation may have mandated that I get up there or offer to teach the class - or leave. Who knows. But you’re choosing sounds clean to me. You did what was appropriate for YOU at that time in a mindful way.

#8

Thanks for the feedback, I don’t feel so bad about my decision now.

BTW the beginners I took were frilled with the class. Ignorance can be bliss.