Tags
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged and I wish my return post wouldn’t be this one, but alas, such is life.
So just a quick insight into why I’ve been absent from blogging in recent weeks *cough* (probably months, but let’s pretend it’s only been weeks!). Mainly I’ve been working really hard, and when I’m not I’m working really hard on rolling around on the floor to look after my body, and, well there’s the new boy in the picture.
But more on that another day!
Today’s agenda is a bit serious, and hopefully doesn’t turn into a rant. I think this is also a rather appropriate topic with John Friend returning to the yoga scene and even talks about the teacher student relationship. Seriously?
When I was younger, my father use to tell me, “Your role now is a student. So be a good student and study. My role is to provide for this family, so I work hard and I provide.” Of course, said in his stern voice and serious face.
We all have duties, many different kind of duties as we play different roles in our lives. I’m a yoga teacher, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a girlfriend, a flatmate, a colleague etc to different people and I have a different set of duties in each of those roles.
As a yoga teacher, it is my duty to serve my students, to help guide them in and out of postures in a safe way, to care about the wellbeing of others, to ensure I have the adequate training and knowledge, and continue to learn as there is an endless amount of information out there.
As a yoga student, it is my duty to listen to my body, always practise with loving kindness and compassion for my own self, explore how we practise on the mat because that’s a reflection of how we live off the yoga mat.
Since I’ve started teaching, I’m fully aware of the areas I need to improve upon to become a better teacher, part of which is just experience, and part of which is to educate myself further on specific areas (and I’m totally excited about these two courses I’m doing in the next few months!). But also, there’s only that much I can do to ensure my students’ safety. Ultimately, we are in control of our own bodies, we make our own decisions.
Basically all I’m saying it, everyone should just play their part, and play it well, whatever it is. Usually compassion to yourself and others will go a long way, common sense comes in handy too.
For a longer list of duties for teachers and students, check out my friend Nadine’s two recent blog posts “How to be a really bad yoga teacher” and “11 sure-fire ways to hurt yourself in yoga”. She’s hilarious.
