Seven Tips for Yoga Cover Teachers and Student Expectations

Stand your ground Yoga Teachers - here's what I believe cover teachers should do.......

1. You have planned your class, so follow it through, of course at times you will improvise as you look around at your students in class.

2. The class you are meant to be teaching does not have to be what your students expect - every teacher has a different delivery and although it can be classed as a specific type of Yoga, it is all about the breathing.

3. Enjoy your teaching and know your students will too. Once they are engaged, you will be spreading the perfect energy.

4. Be calm, especially when you are fully aware fellow yogi's may not take well to change. 

5. It's not for you to adapt your teaching, it is for you to make sure all will benefit from the teaching.

6. Relax your nerves and start off with Pranayama, where you can settle the class and their anxiety.

7. Know that some students are set in their ways and we as teachers have to accept that.

Here's what I believe students should not expect...

1. The teacher to be the same and have the same style as the regular teacher.

2. Students should have an open mind and not expect to receive the same delivery as they regularly do.

3. Just enjoy the class, take the change as it comes.

4. Do not disrespect the teacher by disturbing the whole class with your expectations, just listen, follow and feel your way through the session.

5. Remember cover teacher means cover teacher, it's for a short while so just go with it, the change may be good.

6. Don't be so demanding - sometimes you need a few sessions with the cover teacher to understand where their delivery is coming from, their style and the benefit for you.

7. Enjoy yourself!

Dipa x

An expectation of Yoga teachers... BUT IT'S OKAY

There seems to be this expectation floating around that if you're a yoga teacher or a practising Yogi/Yogini then you 'must' be really calm or you 'must' be really flexible. My question is, why? Why should I be really calm and why must you expect that I'm really flexible? 

I, just like you are on a constantly evolving journey of the Self and the world. So I will have days when I'm flustered or frustrated and everything in the world seems to be pushing against me. I may have days where I struggle in a balance pose or just can't get my nose to meet my knee and I know I can do this!  

I try to avoid or limit the expectations I have of others in life, but I definitely have expectations of myself. I sometimes need to remind myself to let go of these and without defaulting to complacency just accept the present moment. Let is be as it is right now. Maybe my energy is low, or maybe it's my hormones, maybe my body is telling me to take it easy. It's easy to let the outside world force you to be a particular way ALL THE TIME due to their expectation of you as a yoga teacher or an active Yogi/Yogini. These are the times when you need to remember that it's your journey. That you're human with vices and flaws and are constantly evolving. As long as you are mindful and practice non-harming to others and therefore yourself it's quite frankly, none of their business if you can't do the crow pose or the splits or if you're have a rant day. 

It's okay if we we're still working on the life plan, the career plan, the family plan. It's okay to set free the expectation we have of ourselves and have a day off constantly striving to live a balanced life. Try and tip the balance and give yourself a 'you' day. Lounge around or get dressed and meet friends for cocktails or have an extravagant meal (that yes may not be that healthy!). It's okay. Be compassionate... we're only human. 

Here at Yogarei we understand we all have good and bad days, emotional and energetic blocks. There's signal failure on your tube line or you may have missed the bus on your way to work, rushing in all flustered, ranting and raving... and that's okay. Take a deep breath, pay attention to yourself and let it go.

Can we really always be cool, calm and collected? Or should we just try and be ourselves or the best version of ourselves that is possible at the time? Be as flexible as is available to you in your practice and be a calm or ranty as you want. Be mindful, accepting and compassionate to yourself and others when they are going through this and try to avoid judging yourself because you 'should' be like this or that. Just be.