New yoga teachers should work on cutting the apron strings – from you to your mat. Your mat is like “base” in a game of tag. You can’t stay on it forever. Getting off your mat and really seeing your students is when your teaching will “level up” and you will become a much better teacher.
When we get off the mat we can see common mistakes as far as student alignment but also when our teaching cues are not landing clearly.
Just a few weeks ago getting into our flow, four people were on the wrong foot. That wasn’t someone not knowing their right from their left. That was a direct reflection on me and how the cue did not land clearly. If I stayed on my mat and just did my own practice, I never would have seen that.
You’ve been to classes when teachers cue with their face down talking to the mat in their own Child’s Pose. They’re not projecting, they’re not seeing their class – they are taking their class.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a concept that is always taught in Yoga Teacher Training. You have to work on detaching yourself from your mat. Here is how I started:
1. Pick a pose you never need to demo – Downward Facing Dog, Child’s Pose, Bridge, etc. This is a great time to get off your mat, walk around, and share – theme, breath, peace, etc. This is a pose you will always hop out of to talk to your class not to your mat.
2. Demo the flow right and left side – then get off your mat to walk around and offer alignment either by verbal cues or hands-on adjustments.
When we show every single pose, every single second we train our students to be copy-cats. They’re not claiming ownership of their practice. They become replicas of you. I have one male student who does every single thing I do – and honestly, he shouldn’t. He struggles. So I had to start cueing modifications for twists and binds, but not do them myself. Those who have it in their regular practice know where to go and this student doesn’t end up hurting himself forcing something that is not for him.
Also when we demo everything we train our students to only use their eyes, turning off their other senses. They don’t have to listen or pay attention because they can just watch and go through the motions. Literally. They aren’t tuning into their body feeling sensations – they are playing Simon Says.
Teach off the Mat
If we plan a great class and stay on our mat, just barking out yoga poses – are we really teaching anything?
A great yoga teacher is invested in the students. From a personal greeting, sharing helpful personal cues, personal modifications, leading students deeper into their practice, offering something to learn – about breath, the body, pose names, something. We can all stay home and watch yoga on YouTube, a teacher should be engaged with students – not taking their own class. Get off the mat and teach a great class!
from my mat to yours ~
Stef