Recently a student brought a friend to one of my yoga classes, and at the end of the class, she remarked to my student, “I can’t believe the teacher knew everyone’s name.” My student responded, “Names? Roni knows the best side in our poses!” I chuckled. It’s true; I do know that. I make it my business to know as much as I can about my students. Teaching is about seeing your students, and knowing their bodies, strengths, and weaknesses. That may take months, and even years, but that commitment to one’s students needs to be there.
Day in, day out, 52 weeks a year, and even when I’m yearning to be teaching a retreat in a place like Costa Rica in the dead of Boston winter, I’m still here, with my students. Students are like flowers; give them a good base to grow in, nourish them with lots of tender loving care, and watch them grow. Students flourish and thrive here at 57 Waverly Street.
5 KEYS TO SAFE YOGA
- 1. Ask an instructor for credentials. And don't be afraid to leave if you're not satisfied.
- 2. Alert your instructor to your condition. Talk about past injuries and current weaknesses, and ask for any necessary modifications.
- 3. Beware of stationary instructors. They should be roaming around, monitoring participants and making adjustments for those who need them.
- 4. Avoid positions prone to cause injury. These include lotus, chaturanga or plank, headstands, and downward-facing dog.
- 5. Stop if it hurts. Yoga should not cause pain.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; American council on Exercise
Taken from TIME magazine, October 15, 2007