The notes below are designed to give prospective readers an idea of what to expect from the book, and to aid in making a decision on whether to buy it.
Teaching Yoga, Donna Farhi
Introduction
While ethics is incredibly important, I did not resonate with Donna’s direct approach to all of these topics, and I think they are more complex than this book explores. Furthermore, the book is greatly repetitive. The verbs and language are exquisite, but brevity and distillation could be greatly improved upon. If well edited it could be a quick 30-minute read with 30 pages, but instead readers are forced to read over 150 pages. These topics could not be more important, and I plan to leave this review up until someone finds a better book as these topics merit more attention given the first yama.
General Notes
Yoga can change lives and it can produce good or bad. It can injure egos or cause chronic injuries. It’s important to promote ethical awareness in the Yoga profession.
Ethics is treating others as you want to be treated.
Student/Teacher Relationship
All teachers have the ineffable power to bring forth or destroy the nascent and fragile abilities of the individual.
Yoga comes from the idea that all life is interconnected and yama/niyamas deal with living ethically; asanas are somatic practice; pranayama designed to resynchronize our individual rhythm with the primordial rhythm of the universe; pratyahara to leg to of impermanence; concentration - our life and mind is dharma; Dhyana is equinity; and liberation is samadhi.
Yoga is for those that have discipline, tenacity, and devotion. Yoga does not permit a bifurcation between personal and professional life. Yamas and niyamas are constructed on the illusion of separateness. Realize open nature of the heart. Inner observances are niyamas.
When we feel truly seen and recognized we experience profound healing.
Yoga teacher is a mentor. A mentor is someone who sees who we are and has a strong desire to facilitate the blossoming of our fullest capacities. A mentor affirms the student’s self-worth, passes on the torch of her knowledge while at the same time encouraging the student to be his own person. A teacher does not cultivate a students’ dependence but facilitates the student’s trust in his own inner promptings. A mentor takes great pleasure in the smallest improvements in his students.
Often the seemingly casual student, who we barely notice in class, may see us as a lifeline.
A Yoga teacher may act in a capacity like a teacher, doctor, psychotherapist, PT, priest, cheerleader, parent, or beloved.
Teacher as a healer. A person’s belief in a healing method is almost as important as the treatment itself.
As a priest: students invest enormous trust in teachers, and we must hold their confidentiality.
As a parent; it is important to facilitate the internalization of self-approval, self-soothing, and self-worth processes.
When a student has a strong or inappropriate reaction to a situation, it may be (but is not always) triggered by a person’s past (potentially all the way back to their childhood).
Teacher as a lover: Should generally not occur. It comes from a desire to be cherished, to see and be seen.
See your students as their essential self.
Transference is when a client may develop powerful feelings for his therapist, hoping to become the ‘chosen one.’ Need to recognize own and other’s projections. By maintaining a clear boundary, you give the student a golden opportunity to stop the pattern and to affirm the student’s worth.
A certain distance is needed between a student and a teacher according to Donna. When you become their friend, your ability to serve as an effective teacher has ended.
Sutra II.34. Negative feelings are damaging to life. They are born of greed, anger, or delusion.
Am I departing from the greater purpose of my role as a teacher? Am I departing from the greater question, which is to help the student discover his true identity?
If you go out on a date with someone you can no longer be their yoga teacher. They need to know this.
It’s important to form a small peer group who can share problems, but don’t discuss them with students.
Ethics of a Yoga Teacher
Sutra 1.14: It is only when the correct practice is followed for a long time, without interruptions and with a quality of positive attitude and eagerness, that it can succeed.
When training, find the best teachers in the world and study with them. If they have high standards you will go higher.
Make sure you resonate with the reflected value of the Yoga community you join.
Certification and rigorous training is no guarantee that someone will be a great teacher, but it just improves the odds. You must establish a class that is safe, skillfully sequenced, and enjoyable.
Detach yourself from the buzz of a famous teacher and discern whether you are learning.
Investigate a teacher closely before making a commitment to study with him or her.
Don’t make medical diagnoses. Refer students to teachers with specialized training or medical professionals when appropriate.
Provide a disclaimer at retreats “If you are undergoing psychiatric care or taking medication, you may wish to discuss attending this retreat with your therapist.”
Okay to say, “I don’t know.” Honesty gives you integrity and credibility.
Adjust your class numbers to your ability and students’ ability. Start with perhaps a max of 4 and then move up as you grow. Some yoga traditions only believe in 1:1 training. Some students need private training.
Use a microphone for big classes and bring your own.
Require preregistration for a set of classes and prequalification to avoid dropping class to lowest common denominator.
Build information cumulative, provide a community, and provide guaranteed income.
Teach a class so that 90% of the class (or more) understands and is integrating the material. You must practice what you teach and do it currently, or else don’t teach it.
Sutra II.47: Asanas are mastered when all effort is relaxed, and mind is absorbed in the infinite.
Always ask for permission before touching a student. Listen with your hands when touching, don’t make assumptions.
Words’ power is altered by their volume and tone of voice used. The subtlest hint of sarcasm or harshness in tone of voice could destroy a fragile student.
Say “I’m sorry” when you mean it. It is an act of respect to a student.
Establish a clear code of conduct at the start. Have an agreement with the class. Consider including promptness; honor perceptions (listen to your own inner perceptions); questions (internalize them first, make sure on topic, don’t speak to be heard); Focus (perhaps asking to enter the studio quietly); Leaving class (perhaps has to ask permission).
Teachers should make every effort not to publicly embarrass students, but unsafe poses must be addressed immediately.
“While you are free to practice however you like at home, in my class I ask that you follow my instructions. Please stop what you are doing. I will give you two choices: you may either respect my instruction or leave my class.”
As a teacher, be clear about what you are unable to give or don’t want to give, otherwise it can result in your own exhaustion, illness, and career burnout.
If students ask excessive questions you can ask them to make an appointment to discuss the topics or offer them a private lesson. Or you could have a question box where students write them.
Students who share their own history and want a private session for free may be able to be models for the class.
If you are going to go over the class time, ask students’ permission and let those that need to go leave.
Money is an exchange of energy. Yoga teachers need money too to eat, pay rent, get more education, etc.
It is rare to see a yoga class overpriced by regional standards.
Could students get groceries at the store and agree to pay later? Teachers who give loopholes find students take advantage of them. Request prepayment for classes.
Have a clear cancellation and refund policy.
Whatever you bring to practice gets amplified.
Teach from a place of integrity.
Offer students a work exchange rather than scholarships to exchange energy. Be sure they are serious about yoga before you invest time training them. Agree in writing on the job description, timeframe for work to be done, and other terms before it starts. Everyone needs to take it seriously.
Students need to be able to see teachers’ body, but clothing should not over sexualize the body. No political slogans.
Make requests to group rather than to a single individual. Can wrap message in humor. Dirty jokes are not a good idea. It’s a sacred space.
Refrain from speaking about another student to another person in a tone or manner that you would not use with the student directly.
I cannot comment on what another teacher has done as I don’t have the context. What I can share with you is my reasoning for doing what I do. “I cannot recommend this teacher” is as strong as most recommend being.
You don’t know what others bring to the mat. Someone may have a health issue that is not obvious.
Ways to handle complaints: peer to peer confrontation, formal reprimand, recommendation of counseling, removal, censorship and public disclosure, deregistration, and legal action.
Teacher’s Workbooks
Think about how to resolve something before it happens, during, and after.
Attention seeking students with vague questions. Before: Set guidelines including internalization and make sure that you don’t repeat questions. During: “What is your question?” or “I don’t understand the nature of your question, let’s discuss it at a later time.”