For some of us, that question could easily be re-phrased as, "Why did I want to teach Yoga classes?" Whether you are thinking about teaching Yoga in the future, or have been for the past ten years, it is good to review where you have been, where you are, where you are going, and why you are on the journey.
This past week, I was talking to a few veteran Yoga teachers who were looking for fresh ideas to "spice up" their classes, explain benefits to the public, and reinforce the value of safety in their classes. The need to "spice up" classes comes from the perception that our lesson plans have become stale.
There is nothing wrong with making changes, but you should be sure that your students feel the same need. After all, our classes are structured for the needs of our students. If we feel bored as teachers, that's not a true measurement of how our students feel.
The need for change could be that we have neglected our own personal practice and have begun to intrude on our student's classes with our personal needs for change. Before you make changes in your classes, it is best to get feedback from those attend them.
If you have students who you have known for years, an open survey, with a show of hands, is a good measurement. However, if your class is relatively new, and you are not as familiar with their needs, a written survey will help you determine the direction your class should go in.
Sometimes, surveys give us feedback about the need for new classes and workshops. One Yoga instructor mentioned that her students will raise their hands for anything new, but few of them show up for special workshops.
She plans a weekend around 20 students and two of them show up, so what's the solution? Commitment with an advanced payment, or a 50% non-refundable deposit, is a true measurement of how many students will show up for a new class, seminar, or workshop.
A non-refundable deposit is an assurance that a student is serious and has the intention to pay the balance on the day a new class, seminar, or workshop, starts. Some Yoga teachers feel this is too much for their student to bear.
Consider this: If you pay out of pocket expenses for materials, guest teachers, new instructors, or specialized training for yourself, based upon a show of hands and good faith, your students should not object to making a commitment. It is a wonderful thing to give to others, but you should not feel wrong when you ask your students to hold up their end of an honorable agreement.
© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. aurawellnesscenter.com aurawellnesscenter.com - He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html
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