| Where do you begin to outline safety standards for | | | | you and your prospective student to exchange ideas |
| your Yoga classes? Many studios have a system of | | | | about expectations. |
| checks and balances to make sure every student | | | | 2. Have Safety Guidelines in Place: Prepare a list of |
| benefits from classes. At the same time, students | | | | policies for common courtesy, safety, and precaution. If |
| have a variety of expectations when attending Yoga | | | | you assume that everyone will use their "common |
| sessions. Some students want to reduce stress, while | | | | sense," you may be surprised. Most people seem to |
| others want to be pushed. Below are a handful of | | | | do well on their own without rules. However, a few set |
| guidelines to help Yoga teachers develop their own | | | | the precedents for rules, concerning safety and |
| policies for safety. | | | | conduct. |
| 1. Know your Student: Each student has different | | | | 3. Training and Continuing Education: When you |
| desires. One student may look to join a group of | | | | decided to become a Yoga teacher, you may have |
| like-minded people. His or her goals should be | | | | realized: We are all students for life. Learning and |
| discussed before class. Your student application should | | | | discovering make life interesting. Intensives, specialized |
| be designed to help understand a student's state of | | | | Yoga teacher training, workshops, and online learning |
| health and frame of mind. This helps you, and your | | | | will help you become the best you can be. |
| prospective student, discover if your school or classes | | | | 4. Learn more about Modifying, Adjusting, and |
| are a good fit. | | | | Assisting: Some teachers have issues with touching |
| One student was looking for a class that would be as | | | | their students. If so, work on developing exceptional |
| demanding as the Bikram class she saw in a June | | | | observation and cueing skills. Some teachers have |
| 2005 episode of 60 minutes. In that episode, she was | | | | great cueing skills, but some students do not listen very |
| most impressed by the fact that Bikram Choudhury | | | | well. This is why observation is so valuable. It is |
| jumped on the chest of a student who was | | | | important to mentally connect with every student in |
| performing Camel Pose (Ustrasana). | | | | your class. |
| Needless to say, if you do not jump on your students, | | | | Adjusting and assisting require a moderate touch. |
| while they perform Yogic techniques, a rare few of | | | | When performing a physical assist, you can feel the |
| them might be disappointed. It is interesting that some | | | | resistance within the muscles, connective tissue, and |
| students want to be jumped on, kicked, or insulted in | | | | joints. For the sake of your students, gentle |
| your classes. In that case, counseling might be better | | | | adjustments are safer. Make sure you ask permission |
| than Yoga, but each of us has different needs. This is | | | | for an assist, and maintain communication throughout |
| the reason why new students should come to their | | | | the adjustment. |
| first class early. This "introduction" is a good time for | | | | |