I read a really interesting piece in Yoga Journal a few weeks ago about words we use when teaching.
The writer of the piece Sarah Ezrin titled the piece. I’m a Yoga Teacher and This is the One Word I Hate To Say.
It really picked up my conscience about this and how powerful the use of words are in classes.
I have to say I found myself using the word 'just' quite a lot.
Just be still. Just try to soften. If you can't reach your feet, just put your hands on your shins, etc. etc.
I've become aware of other teachers doing the same too.
The word just has several meanings, mostly as an adverb and if you want to read more here's a link https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/just
It makes you aware of how complex the English language can be.
I feel as yoga teachers, or in fact anyone, we should be more mindful of the impact the word just can have in different situations. As it can make the recipient feel undermined, less able and unconfident.
In the same article another yoga teacher Annie Carpenter is quoted. “Just is often received as a comparative request, which triggers deep, and often old, ego responses. It cues us to place ourselves in the ‘Oh, that’s easy’ group, or alternately in the ‘Something else that’s hard for me’ group."
So, I have been making a conscious effort to try and avoid unnecessarily using the word just.
I also really resonated with what Rodrigo Souza said in the same piece about the importance of being humble as a yoga teacher and learning from the people in the class.
I've seen this a lot, where teachers get carried away with difficult asanas leaving most of the class behind, just doing something else. Or perhaps so stuck to a lesson plan where the benefits to the students are lost. For example trying to teach relaxation in a space which is too cold or disruptive.
Also, what I'm increasingly aware of is that people respond and move in class to certain poses. Especially those which are quite challenging. These are often primal reactions and not on a 'scripted lesson plan', but often it's what probably most of the class would want to do. So, I'm trying to be more observant of how people are moving and responding to poses and sequences.
As I've said before from the Bhagavad Gita, we need to all be present to the journey and not be caught up with the end result. The yoga practice enables us to be more sensitive to others as well as ourselves.
And I will keep trying not to use the word, just.
Namaste.
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