Every Yoga Teacher Should Know How To Do This And It’s Not A Pose
Every Yoga Teacher Should Know How To Do This And It’s Not A Pose
I don’t consider myself a strict or purist type of yoga teacher.
My training is Classical Hatha Yoga, but I adapt to suit the client in front of me. If they don’t want to do Savasana (Corpse Pose), typically at the end of class?
No problem.
If they dislike a certain pose like Chair Pose – just hate it for no reason – we don’t do it.
My philosophy has always been to welcome people to Yoga by making the practice as accessible and as customized as possible.
I’ve written here what I believe makes for a good yoga teacher. Insight, ability to really see people, patience, and compassion are also helpful. These qualities cannot be obtained in school though, perhaps just enhanced.
What is taught in Yoga Teacher Trainings are skills.
The one skill that should be required for all YTT graduates is the skill of Mirroring.
Mirroring is the act of doing the opposite of your verbal cue.
It is the most efficient way to communicate movement cues.
So if you are cueing Sukhasana with the Right leg in front, you demonstrate with your Left leg in front.
If you demonstrate a Side Bend to the Right, you cue Left.
And so on…
Mirroring is not that difficult for the experienced teacher until you teach a technically complex pose like Half Lord of The Fishes.
Now, if not mirroring, your students may get confused and frustrated; hearing cues, but noticing the opposite in your body.
‘Ugh, what am I doing wrong?!’
When you don’t mirror your students, you demand more of their attention because your body is not a mirror of theirs.
This occurs in a matter of seconds, but is totally unnecessary. Moments of cognitive dissonance are energy taken away from the student’s attention to their own body and experience.
We all have a finite amount of attention that can be deployed to learn new things. As a teacher, you should always seek the most efficient learning path for your students.
Mirroring is essential if you want your students to have the easiest learning curve.
Mirroring is essential if you teach Beginners or Seniors, older beginners being the fastest growing demographic.
Mirroring is essential if you teach online (or want to).
Mirroring is essential if you want a career teaching privately.
I’ll illustrate this for movement teachers. Go into a room as the teacher and start twirling your hands and wrists. Without any verbal cues, a few students will follow. We humans are students of mimicry before all else.
Mirroring is the most efficient way to learn a new movement because it bypasses words.
It is very primal.
Do you know why not all yoga teachers mirror? Because it’s hard! In the beginning, you get confused. Making mistakes in front of an audience is embarrassing.
Many a time I’ve heard yoga teachers say, ‘Yeah, I don’t do that. I tried and I just couldn’t get it.’
There is no way to put this nicely; your students deserve better.
If you’re reading this and feeling bad, no shame! We are all learning, every day. Invite yourself to up level and learn to mirror.
Portrait Of A Young Yogi, 1995
Learning To Mirror
If you are just starting out and want to mirror, either as a new yoga teacher or an experienced one,
Preface your class by saying:
‘I am learning to mirror which is doing the opposite of my verbal cues and I may make mistakes. Thanks for helping me become a better yoga teacher.’
No one will criticize you; students will happily be part of your teaching evolution.
Mirroring is like riding a bike.
You have to keep on trying and one day it becomes second nature.
Even after 13 years of teaching, I still occasionally mess up my cues, especially if I’m teaching something I’ve just learned.
Mirroring is too important to ignore ‘because it’s hard’ – do your students a favor and establish this primal movement mimicry between you and your students.
Namaste,
Catherine
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Catherine Tingey
Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
About the Author
Catherine Tingey+ Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
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