In a mixed gender class (total class strength averages 42 with equal ratio of men and women) - one would think it is important ithat the teachers’ assistants be both male and female.
I have been going to a class where students are both male and female but since last few months, the one male assistant has been sent away to a different batch and the two female assistants are more inclined to help the women students with advanced poses etc while men are left without any assistance. The institute head will not listen to requests to bring in at least one male assistant.
Confused and annoyed to be in such a class. I am leaving.
In a mixed-gender class of 40+ students I’m not sure how much adjustment one should expect above and beyond primary safety points. An assistant is helpful with that number to reinforce what’s being instructed across the student population in the room and to provide additional direction in a tell/trace/touch paradigm.
I personally see no reason assistants need to be of any particular gender whatsoever. An assistant is either trained, skilled, and capable or they are not. If they are not then hopefully they are growing in that direction through their assistantship, though that’s more appropriate for an apprentice, not an assistant.
Students rarely have a teacher’s eye. And you’ve not mentioned that you are a trained teacher so perhaps what is being seen and attended to by the staff just isn’t viewable by the untrained.
Perhaps it might be helpful for you to identify what your needs are in this class and then from a place of clarity relative to those needs, find other ways to have them met. As an example if you feel the need to be adjusted perhaps chat with the instructor and mention that you’d appreciate some refinement to your poses during class.
If you feel your class, its structure, its guides, are not moving you toward a higher vibration, toward your self, toward a more robust living through your practice … then go. If you feel there is a lack in ethics or a violent approach, or an absence of safety … then go.
Shouldn’t be any gender issue in yoga. It’s a sacred space and adjustments are done with respect devoid of sexual intention. That’s my experience anyway, so it should not matter who does it, if they are sincere yogis. If not, they should not be assisting the class.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.
Chatting with instructor for help in adjustment during advanced poses did not work (I was arrogantly brushed off)
So finally I moved onto a new class with a teacher who is much more positive and better. Also, just 6 students in the class and I feel so much more comfortable and confident during advanced practices.