Finding Middle Ground...

For a little over 2 years I've been teaching a yoga class on a local college campus. A class that has been organized by a group of students who wished to foster a yoga community amongst their peers and extended campus community. A class that's conveniently located on campus and is free of charge as the cost of my services is funded by moneys obtained through the student government association. I've been honored to be part of this lively and dynamic yoga community.

This year however I've struggled with finding a peace with these classes. The attendance at these classes, while good in numbers, is very dynamic. There are a small handful of "regulars", but usually the remainder of the 10-15 students who fill out the group each Sunday night is ever changing. It's been hard to observe students progress in their practice as it may be weeks in-between times that they join us for our Sunday evening gathering. Even now, three quarters of the way through the school year, it's not unusual to have a student or two each night who are attending their first yoga class ever.

I'm a firm believer in setting good foundational habits in one's practice from the get go. As I have often explained to the group, no matter your reason from coming to yoga, one can not safely or effectively build a practice on a shaky foundation. I think they get that, at least in theory. However I've struggled with how to help them be aware of that foundation in practice.

It's interesting to teach a room full of 18-22 year-olds who have mainly chosen to attend this particular college because of the quality and reputation of it's challenging academic programs. Some are student athletes, some are not. Some participate in other movement groups/activities on campus such as dance, some do not. Some have practiced yoga before coming to my classes, some have not. (One student shared with me that her mom is an Iyengar instructor.) I can honestly say my idea of what teaching to a room full of college students means in terms of connection to their physical beings and their physical abilities has been greatly challenged over the past 2 years. I've learned to assume less because their of age and react to what my sight is telling me about the direction our practices together should travel. These kids spend a lot of time in their heads. Not near as much in their bodies.

As a result, our practice has been much more basic that I would have anticipated. Basic but foundational. After all most of them are very new to their practice. A practice I hope they are able to continue long after their short time spent here as students. Hence why I feel obligated to help them build a solid foundation.

However, foundation work isn't nearly as glitzy and glamorous as the images of amazing fluid "wow" poses that often grace the cover of yoga magazines, DVDs, and websites. And let's face it, as 18-22 year olds, we all want a little glitz and glamor and wow in our lives. And this is where my need to create a solid foundation and their desire to explore the whole spectrum of asanas has clashed, giving me this sense of unease.

In addition to our weekly classes, the group has arranged to bring in an instructor from out of town for monthly workshops which often offer classes focused on these more dynamic/challenging poses. They have also taken it upon themselves to arrange peer led and video based practices in between our weekly times together. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that my ego has been a little bruised by these additions, even as much as I'm happy that they are consciously exploring their practice as a group more than just once each week. Different personality respond to different instructors, different ways of practice and I totally get that. It's a good practice in letting go of my "mothering" tendencies to let them venture out and explore on their own.

But I worry. Having watched the group move, I worry about their safety as they venture off into this area of exploration, maybe well before I would choose to lead a majority of them in that direction. True, there are a small number who are physically ready and able to take these steps, many even more so than I. But a good portion of the group still has so much connection to make to find safe alignment in "basic" asanas that I worry a lack of connection could translate into injuries as they try to take tight joints and weak core strength/awareness into arm balances and balancing inversions.

This week I tried to find a middle ground, instructing them through a class that focused on core strength and awareness and how that foundational piece plays into various poses including standing poses, balances, twists, arm balances, and yes, inversions. I think it was well received. Our practice had a great feeling of focus, awareness, and presence. It would be interesting to know if that's how it was perceived on the other end.

Do I worry too much? Am I avoiding teaching these asanas because they are truly not ready, or because many I can not effectively demonstrate myself? As a believer in the practice of yoga as a life practice and not simply a physical exercise, how can I communicate my belief that a well rounded and effective practice CAN be obtained through deep exploration of "basic" asanas, only moving on to exploration of more advanced asana when one is truly ready? How do I help them set a foundation without stifling their freedom to explore and find a practice style that suits their individual needs/personalities?

These questions and more are at the front of my mind lately.

Please share your thoughts.


namaste