Namaste Students
10-01-2006
Students and people in general, are gifts and lessons in life. No two students will ever be the same in their ability, potential or learning style. Honoring my students means many things to me, and I use these ideas to help guide my teaching.
First, I view it as an honor to have a student in a class with me, for whatever reason that student has chosen to come to class. The reasons students come to class vary from wanting to get in shape, because someone mentioned the class, or sometimes by pure luck that they find the class. Regardless of why they attend it is my chance to share with them the beauty of yoga. This is something I view as an honor because I enjoy what I do, I believe in the things that I teach and consider myself fortunate to be doing something that I find happiness and contentment with.
The second context in which I honor my students is that I fully acknowledge and respect that each student comes to class for a different reason, and with different ideas about life. To honor my students in that respect, I do not force them to listen to, accept or believe in any of the esoteric principles of yoga. Those are my personal beliefs, and not necessarily theirs. To honor students I must respect where they come from and that where they may be going is not up to me to decide.
Honoring my students comes full circle in a third way. After recognizing that each student is an individual, I then attempt to reach each student the best way possible by treating them as individuals. Using verbal instruction, corrections, assists, demonstrations, visual aids and even laughter to reach students when necessary honors that they are all individuals and respond to situations and instructions differently.
Finally I end each class by thanking my students for spending time practicing yoga with me. I am grateful that I have the chance to interact with each student, learning something new about myself, about teaching, and about yoga with each passing class. I show my students the same respect they show me as their teacher and I honor the mutual learning that transpires with every interaction.
