Photo Credit: Renee Choi Photography 2017
“Be intentional in creating the physical foundation of the pose and being up to something bigger than yourself.”
A few months back, I wrote about how creating simple rituals help me manage my anxiety before teaching .
And I’ve been sitting on the discovery of how powerful doing a series of actions reinforces confidence in oneself - not to boost the ego, but to set a precedent and mood for the day.
You have mantras and meditation what not, and there’s something powerful about intentionally creating a physical foundation as a Yoga Teacher by doing your own self-practice, self-feedback and “being with” your students.
Every class, every experience, every moment, every interaction is different. These 3 rituals will give you the opportunity to reset and begin newly.
In doing my research, I’ve also requested feedback from other powerful yoga teachers on rituals they do that is powerful in getting them grounded and centred. They are so good, that I’m also sharing them with you.
But first, here’s my THREE!
Self-practice
It’s somewhat of a myth that ALL yoga teachers #yogaeverydamnday .
Given our busy lifestyle and current environment, it’s not possible and it’s possible. I know teachers who yoga everyday, and good on them!
Not me!
It doesn’t make me a bad teacher, just a human, living life the best I can, in bliss and without judgement.
However recently, I made myself do a self-practice on the day that I teach even when I had a 7am class, and the experience was transformative for me.
In my first few years of teaching, I’ve never consciously done a self-practice, and at the back of mind, I know I needed to do it. Some days it happens, some days, I just got too busy.
It’s definitely easier attending a group class in a studio and however by practising by myself, I got out of my head and into my body.
I got out of my own way; I let go of my default of overthinking, wanting to look good in front others. I stopped judging.
It gave me access to speak to what’s coming up for me in that present moment so I can re-create my intention for the day/class.
It kept me grounded, centred and clear, even past the 2nd or 3rd class of the day.
Essentially I created space for myself so I can hold space for others.
For me, self-practice largely looks like a 20-30 mins flow, which could be a simple 5 sun As and 5 sun Bs from the Journey into Power - Awakening series, or listening/following Baron online on My Baptiste Practice. Or testing my sequence for that day’s class.
As teachers, we speak to our students about getting present and grounded by being in their bodies and to drop everything that doesn’t serve them on their mat.
As teachers, our own self-practice gives access for us to do the same, to integrate our breath to our body. It’s the perfect opportunity allow our body be still and get present.
“Your energy introduces you even before you speak.”
Be with
What is “be with”?
I learnt this concept during Baptiste trainings, with various exercises like standing toe to toe with a stranger, looking at them, straight in the eye, and doing nothing but “being with them”, with all the preconceptions I had, which made realise how much judgement I have myself and in turn, for others.
And the work is whether we can “be with” others without judgement, seeing them as whole and complete, and that we are all the same, normal human beings.
There is more work for me to drop my filters of “I’m not good enough” and “they are better than me” and the first step is to be aware when it comes up.
What better way to practice to “be with” than in the studio environment.
A new way of connecting with your students
What I’ve done newly for my last 2 classes was to be in the room itself 5-10 mins before class starts to “be with” the students.
What’s missing in the yoga studio environment is the human to human interaction between the yoga teachers and students. Thinking back, usually the teachers always enter the class just “in time” to start the class, or maybe to set up props or music, or do their own practice.
I did this - entering the room, and saying “oh - we have like 5 mins left. there’s still time,” and I’ll leave the room. I felt awkward I don’t know why.
There’s nothing wrong with all the above, it’s what has always been done.
And why not disrupt the old way of doing things?
As easy as it is to stand at reception to greet your students, I invite you to sit with your students, front centre and “be with” them. Have a conversation, even if you don’t know what to say - start with what’s their name, and how long they have been practising?” Be interested in their lives outside of the studio.
Examples of others questions you may ask:
Name one thing great about your day or what is one thing you can today that will make today great?
What is your favourite way to feel calm?
What makes you happy?
If you could change one thing about your life what would you do?
What is your favourite yoga pose?
What’s not being taught in class but should be?
Self-Feedback
Have you had days when you think you had a bad class? Or you did something wrong? Or had bad feedback from a student?
I had many days like that, and giving myself effective feedback keeps the energy on what I can do better at rather than “what I did wrong”.
There is a formula to giving EFFECTIVE feedback:
KEEP - what was 1-2 things great about class today that you will keep on doing?
DROP - what could you stop doing that does not leave the students in their greatness?
ADD - What is 1-2 thing you can do more for the next class? What was missing in class?
Better still, if there is a fellow Baptiste Teacher in your class, make a request for feedback, in the same formula of KEEP-DROP-ADD.
So…… those are my discoveries from purposefully putting into action, these 3 rituals that were simple yet purposeful.
It will yourself newly and powerfully every new teaching day.
And like I said I was bowled over by the responses from other teachers on their rituals, if my rituals don’t work for you, you can try one of those below.
What Do the Other Yoga Teachers Say:
I blast music in my car or house (typically something ridiculous and pop variety- think T Swift— that I can actually sing the words to) and I dance and get allllll excess energy out in a way that generates the most positive and joyful energy for me! Then I generate a loving kindness meditation or gratitude practice and I’m good to go! Oh and mantras from Beautiful Chorus on Spotify usually are in my rotation too!
- Lisbeth Hinkel | Houston, TX
Meditation. Avoid any alcohol the evening before. Greet students at check in and connect. No texting or phone stuff in the 15 minutes before I open the door to the studio.
- Molly Pulsifer Casto | Charleston Power Yoga | Charleston, SC
“Practice, Practice, Practice”
I have a 15 second ritual I do before every class I teach - I wrap myself in an invisible cape (literally go through the motion) and then I pray, “Let only love enter and let only love exit this cape”.
It grounds me into myself, and gives me a moment to remind myself what I am up to- LOVE. To see people, be with people, and lead people through love. It also reminds me to smile at serious grumpy faces that may be in the room and not take anything personally. People show up on their mat with their own lives.- Samantha Nimock
I spend time quiet (preferably in nature) to realize what theme I am working with that week/day. I like lighting up candles where possible, but where not, I simply feel my feet on the ground and say a silent prayer of being guided to create presence and connection and for the practice to work through me.
- Oona York
I draw one of the Baptiste meditation, asana, inquiry cards as an organizing principle for my day and the class(es) I teach.
- Kelly Branning
1. Plan the session with a focus that connects to the previous class & provides a coherence to the lesson + taking in the needs of my students.
2. Rehearse it thru a couple of times including cues.
3 Get to class early - to set out my mat etc calmly & quietly.
- Lyndsey Oliver | St Andrew’s, Scotland
I take time to go in the room where I will be teaching, alone. I do some sun salutations and hand stands. Then I get still. I connect in and take myself to 0. I do not know how else to describe that, but drop my ego for a moment and get as close to just feeling the gratitude, the love flow through me as I can in the moment. I ask for inspiration ad guidance and that I be a channel for whatever is needed, for whoever shows up, for right now. I am here for the highest and best good, for us all.
Once I have completed this ritual, I stay focused on greeting people as they come in and set up. I greet them by name, I ask for their name, I talk to them about hat is going on in their lives. I will not talk to any team members about business or anything else once I am at this point of my prep. I am here to "get" the folks who are here. When class begins, I know everyone's names and I have a sense of the "mood" of the community. While Ohming, I make my request once more. "Let me be a channel for whatever is needed."
- Stacy Shepherd | Yoga Factory Plano | Dallas, TX
I practice at some point during that day and I come up with something new to teach. I also read from my spiritual books to see what is true for me that day. I’ll read more to explore it more then weave that though the practice. Both of those practices ground me.
- Elizabeth Levine | Kingston NY, USA
“Meditation.”
I prefer to “see and be seen”. Really enjoy connecting with the community prior to my classes. I make it a point to personally connect with new students, introduce myself and welcome them. I find it helps me as a leader to better teach to what’s there / missing. I too get to the place if practice at least 30 minutes prior to class start time.
- Patrick Mills
Cleaning the studio, preparing the space for practice has a funny way of grounding me.
- Kate Giglio
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