What Yoga Teachers Should Not Do...But Still Are!

Trish Corley Author

Real life yoga class experiences that did not work!

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In 2023, I traveled to at least 20 different cities across the globe and and took yoga classes at over 30 studios.  If you are a yoga teacher, you may relate to the challenge of going to a studio to practice and then experiencing the things you make an effort to not do when you teach yoga. While I love learning from other teachers, sometimes it’s true that I feel like I am learning what not to do. 

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In this article, we'll explore three things that yoga teachers shouldn't do, but are unfortunately, doing anyway.

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When I experience something that a yoga teacher does that doesn’t work, it’s important to first decipher this: Is it something that is simply different from my preference; or is it something that just does not work?

With so many styles of yoga and ways to teach, most often, what doesn’t work for me, probably works for others. As I mentioned, I have taken a lot of yoga classes giving me a lot of different experiences. While my list of “what doesn’t work for me” is long, I’ll leave you with 3 of my real life experiences that seem fair to say just did not work!

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3 Things That I Experienced in Yoga Classes That Did Not Work

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1. Don't Look Out the Window and Teach!

There I was in warrior 2, in the back row next to the window of the yoga studio that looked out into the parking lot, drishti on my on my own fingers. The teacher walked in front of me holding a cup of what appeared to be tea or coffee. “Keep your dristhi on your fingers” I told myself as my peripheral vision watched said yoga teacher walk up to the window, take a sip of tea, and then proceed to verbally teaching while looking out the window. This lasted for about three minutes. I felt disconnected. Quite frankly, I wondered why I spent the time to travel to the studio and pay the fee.

My preference and way of teaching is to look at students and teach based off of what is happening. That said, I realize it works for some people to stick more to a script. However, when she spoke to the window, nothing she said seemed relevant to me.

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2. Don't Disregard Time! End on Time!

This one seems obvious, I get it, it’s challenging to fit “everything in” and it’s also the duty of a yoga teacher to end class on time. Students arrive with the expectation that the class will start and end at the scheduled times. Disregarding this can disrupt their schedules and lead to unnecessary stress.

My experience of rising from savanna relaxed and ready to move forward with my afternoon plans shifted at a quick glance of my watch after saying Namaste. The class was scheduled to end at 10:45 am giving me enough time to get to my 11:15 appointment that was about 15 minutes But when I looked at my watch it was 11:05 am. That left me with unnecessary stress. 

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3. Don't Go to the Bathroom Without Excusing Yourself!

This was just awkward! There I was in supine twist looking over the to my left side where the teacher was standing and talking. She instructed us to switch sides which left me looking at the wall on my right side. I took a breath in and out and then the teacher’s instructions stopped. It felt like she had left the room. I looked to the left side of the room and couldn’t see her. So I turned my head back to the right and focused on my breath. That’s when I heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door open and the teacher instruct us to come out of the pose.

Ok, I get it. Sometimes nature calls and you have to do what you have to do. However, leaving the room without addressing your absence can be unsettling for students and disrupt the flow of the class, not to mention just weird. Personally I found the flush of the toilet amongst the silence funny, but it became weird when there was no acknowledgement.

If you find it necessary to step out for a moment, take a quick bathroom break, or attend to an urgent matter, it's important to communicate this to your students. A simple, "Excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back," goes a long way in maintaining the trust and comfort of your class.

By excusing yourself, you show that you respect your students' time and acknowledge their presence. It's a small gesture that contributes to the overall positive atmosphere of the class.

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As I write this finally blog post of 2023, I am finally in my apartment in Lisbon, Portugal and excited for what’s to come in 2024. For sure there will be more Yoga Anatomy courses, the mentorship program, and various workshops! Stay tuned too as I will reveal more information about the return of the Power to Lead 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training!

Categories: : Effective Teaching Techniques