I never know who is going to be interested in yoga, and when students arrive for the first day of training they come in all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. Looking out at them, even after 5 years of leading teacher training courses 6 - 8 times per year, I still can't guess which ones will embrace the practice of teaching completely. If there is a commonality shared by the students I've had that have become great teachers, it is their ability to concentrate. Whether this is innate or learned I don't know, but when I look out into a pair of steady, soft eyes it feels good - feels like home. And curiosity, too, is a common element- there are students who seek to know, and there are students who seek to...seek. They enjoy the process of learning, entirely apart from making final decisions. Maybe that is why they show up in my trainings - the attraction to inquiry I feel is mirrored by them.
In the courses I teach I try to make each day as practical as possible, to give the students tools they can use to teach effectively. Hatha yoga is in many ways a very practical practice. Learning how the body works, how the poses integrate and expand consciousness (because if the body is expanding, so's awareness). But often I feel that the physical yoga is also just a way to become present. Teaching the practice is a way to become aware of one's own presence amidst others.
Reviewing the course on the last day this round, the consensus was the student's needed more time and practice integrating physical adjustments to poses. Therapeutic adjustments based on Holistic Biomechanics is a wonderful way to help people feel the yoga, to make a connection. I'll be putting together some training for this very soon.
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