First 2 classes Part 2

[Guest guest]

I decided to call the class Beginner's Power Yoga

since I agree I'm not qualified or experienced to teach

Astanga as Sri Pattabhi Jois intended it. I did get

really positive written evaluations, though, from the 16

people that have come to the 2 classes so far (10 people

one week, 6 the next). I've also made sure people

know that I'm learning to teach and that's why I'm

only charging $5/class (which just covers the renting

of the space). I'm just offering a drop in class for

now until I get an indication people want to commit

to a series of classes and feel comfortable leading

it. <br>So the first class I tried demonstrating and

talking through it simultaneously but you can't check

alignment or focus on how students are doing it that way.

As message 568 said, it is much more useful to talk

someone's body into the posture so I've been studying the

descriptions in Beryl Bender's book and in David Swenson's

Practice Manual for what makes the most sense to me. The

second class went better as a result of me working more

with the people than with "showing" the posture. I've

also made cards for each posture with the salient

details even though you need to have the info memorized

as fumbling through cue cards while teaching gets

awkward. I practiced teaching the class verbally before I

did the first one and that helped me get the timing

down so I ran on time. I spent the first 15 minutes

teaching the breathing, mula bandha, and talking about

gaze, active legs to maintain heat before doing sun

salutations. The first set of sun salutations I had them hold

for 5 breaths in each position to get a sense of it

and then roll through them as usual. I had students

sign in on a sheet with a waiver at the top (which is

useless in court but is better than nothing). I also made

a newsletter out of info downloaded off the net

from different Ashtanga websites so people got an idea

of other resources and learned more about Mysore and

Ashtanga's origins. As for postures I only got as far as 3/4

of the standing postures before moving into a

modified finishing series. <br>I enjoyed the challenge of

my first class so much that I decided to register

for the 7 day teacher training David Swenson's

offering 3 hours travel away in July I can't afford. I now

know this is what I want to do and do well. It's funny

that if I hadn't tried leading a class I wouldn't have

signed up for the teacher training.<br>Even though it's

beginner's class I've gotten a number of calls from people

wanting intermediate classes so be prepared for that. To

those people I tell them about a practice space I set

up early Tuesdays(but have had a minimal turn out of

2-3 people for the last few months despite ads and

word of mouth) Maybe after David Swenson's course I'll

be more comfortable running an intermediate class

but for now there is a lot to learn and work on so

I'll stick with just a beginner's drop in. It's been

exciting to connect with people and support their

practice.<br>Anyways, those are all the details I can think of for now.

Hope that helps anyone interested. Good luck in the

fall, Homer.<br><br>Namaste

[Guest guest]

Hi, <br>I recently took a workshop with David in

Philly, PA and it was highly enjoyable and very

educational. David is an incredible teacher and he is quite

funny to. We spent a half a day on the floating thing ,

which to me will always be a challenge. Alot of

remarkable stuff to learn. Too much for three days. The

first night much like your experience, we spoke about

the breath and the bandas, and gaze. All of

importance. We then had a Mysore yoga class which is where

you work in a group much like they do in Mysore,

India. This is where you work on your practice at your

own speed and your pace. Everyone was working at

their own pace and some lost track of which asana was

next and he ever so nicely would come around and help

anyone out that needed help. It was a very interesting

way to practice, I had never done this before and I

enjoyed. The next day we worked on floating, this is when

you lift the hips instead of the legs to get them

through to a sitted postion during the vinyasas. He did

what he called turbo assists which were extremely

helpful for myself and some of the other teachers there.

Next was practice with him talking us through all the

asanas, with more assisting, and even putting us in

groups to assist each other.<br>It was again a very

educational work shop and I am quite sore in the hamstrings

and arms...which is where you should be sore during

ashtanga...not in the lower back area. I m doing some research

as to why ashtanga should not be done on a full

moon. Does anyone have insight on this topic?<br>I will

for sure be back in June for his workshop in Philly

again. Remember 99% practice-1% theroy<br>talk to ya

soon ~Rose

[Guest guest]

your "intermediate" class is still for beginners.

You scare me. Why are you teaching at your beginning

level. Sounds like the blind leading the blind.

Furthermore, just because you take a David Swenson workshop

you are not qualified to teach. Your heart is in the

right place, for what that is worth but you are an

accident waiting to happen. chill out and

study.<br><br><br>spw