Friday, September 09, 2011

Students: dos and donts

There are certain things students in good yoga class simply should not do. Often this is a matter of just the right behavior that u would think is normal for most of humanity.  If u discuss with the students, in a general fashion hoping they will get the hint,  they will nod  their heads in agreement but believe somehow u are not talking to them but are discussing other `misbehaving' students and continue committing the same blunder:)
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  • Look for a bargain. It is not about money. . It is about not thinking of the other students and the teacher. But most students think somehow the bargain is just bout the money and not about insulting a teacher:) It is all about perspective.... shifiting it from oneself to someone else... and seeing why, from that person's point of view... (Now, I know what the silly types will say... they will say I must shift about and see it from the student's view... weeeeeelll:)
  • Ask for special privileges or special modules for themselves. Again, unless it is a large institute, this is not on because it again compromises other students, and through them the teacher.
  • Not pay on time. Making the teacher ask u for the payment twice or more times after the scheduled day is a deliberate insult. I see this often in some students who will pay only on the tenth of the month, as if having that extra 1000 bucks in their bank has added a bit to their savings bank interest!! Others who will behave as if they have paid... All this  is designed to make a teacher do something she or he should not be doing... and yet, this is not about the teacher. It is about you yourself generating bad karma for yourself:)
  • Keep mobile on during class. (What to say about this... a mobile ringing during yoga nidra is the worst offence... )
  • Keep chatting with your neighbour during class. This is somehow a very female problem. They feel they can talk softly to each other. It is very offensive because it distracts the teacher. Also distracts other students even tho they are not involved. It dissipates class energy....
  •  Constantly asking about benefits of a pose. Not on, simply because for me it means the student wishes to avoid doing a pose or practice and rest on his or her butt! Wastes the time of other students. Most teachers, I included, keep repeating the benefits while the class is holding a pose ... that is sufficient. Anything else, after the class if it is urgent enough.
  • Asking to do an advanced pose without having mastered the basic... mmmm.. what can I say?!! Really makes me wild this laziness of spirit...
  • Saying a particular practice is boring!! I hate this happening before a class. It means the student hopes the teacher will not make them endure that practice. Arrghh .. then  u go practice somewhere else... Happens with sun salute or pranayama... 
  • Being lazy in class... Some students will bring that attitude on the mat. Sleep about or not participate, or pretend they are sick or have some major physical issue to avoid some poses. When some `exciting pose' comes, they will perk up to do it. But of course, all the other `boring' poses, warm you up and prepare u for the big one, so that sort of behavior is absolutely criminal, in my mind. It is also very `oversmart'...
  • Saying stuff like that pose  `u made me  do on wednesday last. It has made my back hurt more. ' This is ridiculous and absolute trash... especially if this student is also doing other physical activity,  esp gym or even their professional posture druing the day,  which may be creating this physical knot! Usually the student will say this loudly in class, making other students nervous towards the pose. Or before a class, just seeking to completely unsettle a teacher.  The idea is to get some attention from the teacher and then rest it out during the class. Mainly, I see this is a negative way to gain attention... Some sort of a hangover from childhood when the child makes the parent feel guilty for sending it to school:) A mishandled child-parent relationship often gets transferred to a yoga class and teacher is left cleaning up the mess the student's parents have left in that poor `child's psyche...
  • Arguing about rules constantly, over mail or sms!!  I find this behavior terribly offensive. I don't want to say anything about such crappy behavior. Usually I don't want such students in my class!!
  • Worrying about space in a class. I find this irritating simply because my school of yoga, the Sivananda style, has for its motto "Adapt, adjust, accomodate"... and if students find the presence of another extra student is interfering with their practice (just how??!!) then they have not grasped the essence of pratyahara (withdrawing into oneself, involuting the mind). Pratyahara is an yogic attitude that is listed ahead of the asanas. U are to learn that, before moving to your exciting headstand, dodos!!
  • Saying stuff like "I don't like that person in my class." That is your problem, not mine!! Go away then... or learn what I am trying to say, through the poses to adapt, adjust and accomodate.. ...
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Yoga is an attitude -- yamas and niyamas.
Cleaniness of thinking......
 after that the poses!!

2 comments:

YogaRetreats said...

I run a Yoga Retreat at Costa Rica, and i have the same problem. They could be more compeensive and understand that yoga is life! I invite you to come to my Yoga Teacher Training, if you ever stop by Costa Rican seas, you can check on www.anamayaresort.com/yoga-teacher-training.html

Saravah!

Anonymous said...

sairam mam, am guilty of a form of misbehaviour no.1 many years back.but uintentionally; due to immaturity perhaps. hopefully i now know better. pls forgive. warm regards...