What to look for in a Yoga teacher
A helpful guide to empower the student to make the right choices when looking for a yoga teacher or a studio to practice in. It is important to look at the potential teacher or studio's practice in ethics since the main teachings of yoga is all about ethics:
Yamas & Niyamas
Yamas & Niyamas
Find a teacher, teachers or studio that has the following qualities:
*One who empowers
*Teachers who share information about other studios or good teachers.
*Trust
*Teachers who support other good teachers and students as part of the ongoing work of community building.
*One who genuinely cares about the students over all health and well being.
*Humility
*Has an on going self practice.
*One who is constantly studying yoga so new information can be shard with the student.
*Use of scientific backing as in case studies, peer group studies and cross referencing information new or old.
*Study of biomechanics and physical therapy in order to not injure students over long term.
*Years or decades of experience.
*Open to suggestions
*Provides a safe and supportive environment
*Teachers who share information about other studios or good teachers.
*Trust
*Teachers who support other good teachers and students as part of the ongoing work of community building.
*One who genuinely cares about the students over all health and well being.
*Humility
*Has an on going self practice.
*One who is constantly studying yoga so new information can be shard with the student.
*Use of scientific backing as in case studies, peer group studies and cross referencing information new or old.
*Study of biomechanics and physical therapy in order to not injure students over long term.
*Years or decades of experience.
*Open to suggestions
*Provides a safe and supportive environment
Teachers or studios to stay far away from:
*Abuse in any form, subtle to extreme-
Abuse comes in many forms and Yoga has unfortunately attracted a lot of abusive, manipulative, gas lighting, bullying, toxic positive and narcissistic people.
*Isolation of dissidents-
Notice how the teacher/s speaks about students who have moved on to other schools, or grown and developed other ways of practice.
Ask: What happens to people who disagree with this teacher/s or leave this organisation/studio? Are they welcome to return? Does their isolation from this environment encourage growth? Is there a diversity of opinion and perspective here, or does everyone respond in the same way? Does this homogeneity feel healthy? How do I feel when I swallow my disagreement? Where does it go in my body, and what does it do? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Teachers who do not think for themselves, toe the line and/or repeat blindly what their teachers said or what an organization said-
Toeing the line is conforming to institutionalized rules or standards. When toeing the line, one allows, without thought, the institutionalized governed bodies full control. This is very dangerous! We are beings of free will. Conforming has absolutely no place in Yoga. Repeating what an institution, teacher or govern body says does NOT mean they are right, correct or justified in truth.
*Ridicule, shame and silencing-
If a teacher ridicules anything or silences anyone, be aware of what is at stake. Shaming questioners, or silencing enquiries is an elitist strategy to preserve the believed superiority of the school/guru, and can often indicate a hidden agenda of violence and suppression. Ridiculing women’s empowerment initiatives, such as feminism and the #metoo movement is often an indication of deep misogyny, as is ridiculing efforts to protect women. Teachers in Atman Federation of Yoga schools widely ridiculed the 2018 Swedish legislation making it against the law to have sex with someone without their clear consent.
Ask: What are they afraid of? Why are questions inadmissible? What is being hidden? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Discipline, coercion and punishment-
Notice the relationship between discipline and kindness in the school/organization or between the teacher and student. If there is a public harshness towards those who struggle in classes, or verbal cruelty in answers to questions in groups, this indicates that there is likely to be other kinds of violence hidden in other private places too.
Ask: How does it feel to be told I am ‘weak’ and ‘not serious about spiritual practice’? Is the level of discipline required sustainable and healthy for me? Does this teacher coerce students into practice, or threaten punishment for not practising enough? Are students frightened of the teacher’s response to insufficient or inadequate practice? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Elitism
*Greedy for money-
this goes against Aparigraha (non-hoarding). Teachers need some money to survive but this should not be their main focal point for the reason they teach or own a studio.
*Disrespect for any other way-
Be aware if a teacher speaks with disrespect about other schools or teachers, or describes others in demeaning terms, such as ‘shallow’ or ‘student poaching’. If they disrespect others then it is likely at some point that they will disrespect your own intuitive wisdom.
ASK: Is there any respect or tolerance for diversity here? Is this really the only way? How might it feel to have my own wisdom demeaned in the same way that these other teachings/ teachers are being disrespected? What experience does this teacher have of the other ‘lesser’ schools?
Word and content source:
(yonishakithemovment.com)
Abuse comes in many forms and Yoga has unfortunately attracted a lot of abusive, manipulative, gas lighting, bullying, toxic positive and narcissistic people.
*Isolation of dissidents-
Notice how the teacher/s speaks about students who have moved on to other schools, or grown and developed other ways of practice.
Ask: What happens to people who disagree with this teacher/s or leave this organisation/studio? Are they welcome to return? Does their isolation from this environment encourage growth? Is there a diversity of opinion and perspective here, or does everyone respond in the same way? Does this homogeneity feel healthy? How do I feel when I swallow my disagreement? Where does it go in my body, and what does it do? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Teachers who do not think for themselves, toe the line and/or repeat blindly what their teachers said or what an organization said-
Toeing the line is conforming to institutionalized rules or standards. When toeing the line, one allows, without thought, the institutionalized governed bodies full control. This is very dangerous! We are beings of free will. Conforming has absolutely no place in Yoga. Repeating what an institution, teacher or govern body says does NOT mean they are right, correct or justified in truth.
*Ridicule, shame and silencing-
If a teacher ridicules anything or silences anyone, be aware of what is at stake. Shaming questioners, or silencing enquiries is an elitist strategy to preserve the believed superiority of the school/guru, and can often indicate a hidden agenda of violence and suppression. Ridiculing women’s empowerment initiatives, such as feminism and the #metoo movement is often an indication of deep misogyny, as is ridiculing efforts to protect women. Teachers in Atman Federation of Yoga schools widely ridiculed the 2018 Swedish legislation making it against the law to have sex with someone without their clear consent.
Ask: What are they afraid of? Why are questions inadmissible? What is being hidden? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Discipline, coercion and punishment-
Notice the relationship between discipline and kindness in the school/organization or between the teacher and student. If there is a public harshness towards those who struggle in classes, or verbal cruelty in answers to questions in groups, this indicates that there is likely to be other kinds of violence hidden in other private places too.
Ask: How does it feel to be told I am ‘weak’ and ‘not serious about spiritual practice’? Is the level of discipline required sustainable and healthy for me? Does this teacher coerce students into practice, or threaten punishment for not practising enough? Are students frightened of the teacher’s response to insufficient or inadequate practice? (yonishakithemovment.com)
*Elitism
*Greedy for money-
this goes against Aparigraha (non-hoarding). Teachers need some money to survive but this should not be their main focal point for the reason they teach or own a studio.
*Disrespect for any other way-
Be aware if a teacher speaks with disrespect about other schools or teachers, or describes others in demeaning terms, such as ‘shallow’ or ‘student poaching’. If they disrespect others then it is likely at some point that they will disrespect your own intuitive wisdom.
ASK: Is there any respect or tolerance for diversity here? Is this really the only way? How might it feel to have my own wisdom demeaned in the same way that these other teachings/ teachers are being disrespected? What experience does this teacher have of the other ‘lesser’ schools?
Word and content source:
(yonishakithemovment.com)