When you lack pearls, wisdom is waiting for you… somewhere. It may drop in your lap, other days you have to search for it. This afternoon, I read a blog post that seemed to float down into my dinghy of doldrums, a puff of wind later, my hand reached for the tiller, Aye Cap’n, ashore we go! Intention Leads us to Education (growing as a yoga teacher) by Ida Ripley, is exactly what I need as I find myself on the podium after a hiatus on the high seas.
Our goals and intentions as teachers need to be open and encompassing of each student’s goals for themselves, not what we think they need to accomplish in the class.
I’ve only met Ida twice; once on Vancouver Island during my travels, the next at Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. Few words were spoken so I don’t know a lot about her but I like her style and standing and I guess I respect her quite a bit. Ida opens by talking about her “physically-photographic memory for corrections and feedback” super powers and more generally, the giving of and receiving feedback with other Bikram teachers. Personally, I love it and I like it both ways and even though feedback can be an uncomfortable process for both, it’s essential for us to grow.
In order to be good at something, you must understand and effectively execute each and every part of it
She then talks about “continuing education”, which is funny because in my last post, Retuning the Compass, I mentioned how frustrated I was with Bikram Teacher Training. For Bikram teachers, continuing education is everything and what sets you apart from everyone else. This is where I really sat up to take notice, after all, Ida has been teaching Yoga since 2003. I like how she doesn’t just hand you the gold because one yogi’s treasure is another yogi’s trash. However she has the wisdom to hand this responsibility back to you, after all (and thanks for reminding me, Ida), we signed up for this vocation and the depth of knowledge is endless. But you must want it! Your evolution as a yogi is what becomes you, and then you as a teacher.
So…all that being said…here is what I would tell you as the first thing to think about in your teaching, I don’t even need to take your class. Before you even walk into the yoga room, ask yourself…
Ha! Now run off and read Intention Leads us to Education. When Ida writes, it’s usually a lot so when you wonder if she’s going somewhere, remind yourself you don’t need to be anywhere; sometimes the pearls wont be found in the abc but the xyz, so keep reading!