Teacher Power & Self Inquiry

teacher power and self inquiry

There has been a lot of media attention on inappropriate physical contact between yoga teachers & students. This does not mean we have to stop adjusting. Touch is fundamental to the human experience. Of course, touch can also hurt. With good reason, we have made moves to protect our students & ourselves. We should always gain consent first & implement strong boundaries. Students need to feel safe. ‘Safe touch’ doesn’t have to mean ‘no touch’.

But, non-sexual abuse of power over students also has an impact. This includes belittling, labeling, ostracising, ignoring, dismissing, excluding, intimidating & any form of public humiliation.

This behavior can disrupt the trust & nurturing necessary to achieve any yoga teaching goal, leaving students feeling shamed, excluded & powerless & can instill long-term self-esteem effects.

As teachers, we too are human; we can often avoid this real & normal humanness in fear of how we may be seen ‘on the Yoga path’,  but often the students we attract are mirroring & therefore nurturing our own journey, subsequently offering our potential for personal growth.

Being a yoga teacher means engaging in serious self-inquiry. Self-inquiry is the ability to see our whole Self, not just the bits we may like but all our shadows.

Our main purpose is to be of service to students. If our teaching becomes only self-serving & ego-based, we are not fully acting with integrity while also missing out on opportunities.

We must become ruthlessly self-honest & this also means allowing students ‘in’ on our journey if we get things wrong.

Just like peeling layers of an onion, many of our thoughts & beliefs are based on assumptions about ourselves & the world, consciously or subconsciously, typically generated by our life experiences & the effects that people have had on us.

We can become triggered by our students as much as our students can become triggered by us as teachers.

But, when we turn our attention inward, in a self-discovery way, we can begin to identify the thoughts & beliefs that are limiting, the triggers to our shadow behaviors & our own patterns of unhelpful behavior.

When we connect with this deep level of self-awareness, we open the door to self-understanding & can begin the practice of true patience, humility, empathy & compassion for ourselves first, which will then transpire into our teaching & for our students.

The journey we are assisting students on can then become much more transformational.

To dive deeper into this topic & learn more about how to teach yin yoga

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Want to share your passion for Yoga with others & now feel ready to begin your teaching career? We offer a Yoga Alliance 200-hr Vinyasa & Yin Yoga ‘equally balanced’ Training with three experienced lead teachers in Vinyasa, Yin Yoga & Anatomy. Following Yoga Alliance ethos for both styles with Training & Techniques, Philosophy, Subtle body, Anatomy, Teaching Tools, & practicums. Our 200-hr training is a sure way to begin your teaching in confidence.

200 Hour

THE yin yoga PRACTICE

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Or maybe your focus is more on all the aspects of Yin Yoga? Including our role as teachers, practice teaching all seven archetypes, & explore the vast creative variations we can incorporate. Different anatomy is also included, where we further explore the Fascia system, particularly in relation to pain, & the Autonomic Nervous system. Also,both Spine & Shoulder anatomy & how this affects functional movement, together with diving deeper into Chinese Medicine.

100 Hour

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THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Maybe teaching isn’t so important for you, but you still wish to learn more about Yin Yoga. This one-week program includes all the fundamentals: philosophy, meridians, principal Chinese Medicine & our well-being. We explore all 7 archetypes, have twice daily practices, & complimentary fascia techniques. Anatomy is also explored: fascia layers, holding patterns, Hip anatomy & effects on movement, functional yoga, & apply this to your body.

55 Hour

the yin yoga practice

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Prefer to study an accredited Yin Yoga & Chinese Medicine training entirely at your own pace & in the comfort of your home, returning to your study as often as required. This online TTC  gently guides you through all the fundamental aspects of the Yin yoga practice, including essential philosophical & physiological aspects, the meridians, how to place the theory into your Yin yoga with full class practices, & reflection on difficult emotions.

50-hour Online

FREE YIN YOGA CLASS

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akirayogaLTD 13569397

akirayogaLTD 13569397

Copyright © Akira Yoga 2019. All Rights Reserved.

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