Teaching Hatha Yoga - Be Thankful for Difficult Students
Every once in a while I will meet a veteran Yoga teacher who is disgruntled over difficult students. The complaining Yoga student, the student who has not washed for days, the student who harasses other students, and the student who believes you should teach Yoga for free, can all challenge your purpose in life. So what can you do to get through to difficult Yoga students?
Firstly, you must go back to the Law of Karma, which states that for every action, there is an equal reaction. With a difficult student, it may appear as though he or she selected you, and now you are the victim. This is absolutely wrong. Due to your personality, or the atmosphere of your Yoga class, the student has detected something magnetic.
In fact, you or your center, attracted all of the students you had, presently have, and will have, in the future. You must look at what draws students into your Yoga classes. It may not be obvious to you, so it will require some research, and you may need some objective opinions.
Here is a good example: Bikram Choudhurys schools and style exude discipline. When you enter one of Bikram Choudhurys Yoga studios, you do not have to guess what the rules are. You know the rules. You can complain, but you will be escorted to the exit in short time. You would not show up late, leave your cell phone on, avoid taking a bath for a month, or whine about the temperature.
Copyright 2007 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. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995.
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