There’s a student in your power vinyasa class in a handstand while eveyone else breathes in child’s pose.

That student?  Me. Maybe. Don’t hit me.

I once saw each choreography change by a student as an insult. Then I got into ashtanga, a self-practice. Dictated, but self-tailored. I began to practice at home alone and from the depths of this self inquiry, I developed a power–

to get the fuck over myself.

Particularly as a teacher. I get it, kids. I get it now. 

Years of practice on my mat unable to do a headstand, then able to do multiple headstands, with little tolerance for heat to reveling in an abundance of it. I’ve come to classes unable to twist or torque my midsection, I’ve come to classes concerned about a hip or a neck, I’ve come to practice tired, needing group energy, crazy, calm, sad, tired and —

I get it. Look, I’m here holding a space. Offering choreography. I want you to stay with the class in terms of your presence (ie., no Simone Biles-back-handsprings-across-the-room-distraction). But if the rest of the class is in child’s and you need more — go handstand your ass off.

Why should I be upset? As a yoga teacher I’ve found that the problem isn’t students not listening to the teacher, but with students giving ALL THEIR POWER away to the teacher. They come up to me before class and whisper about a surgery they had, so that “my feelings” don’t get hurt when they don’t do x or y of my “choreography.”

Houston, we’ve got a problem.

It’s a problem when students in yoga classes are afraid of hurting teachers’ feelings by turning down assists or opting out of certain postures. Let me break it down:

1. STUDENTS GOING ROGUE TO TURN UP THE JUICE OR TRY RELATED “ADVANCED VARIATIONS”

I feel like a proud hen seeing students go “rogue” (to steal my teacher friend’s speech) in my classes. It’s not disruptive– perhaps because the more space I give people in my classes to be who they are, the more they respect the space and the students around them. I feel warm and fuzzy that they feel happy and safe enough to make the practice their own–

because it is.

If this makes you cringe, teacher, let me ask this: 

how many times have you taken a class, or taught the class– where the teacher says–

“it’s ok to take a child’s pose whenever you want.” 

What is the difference between the student taking the child’s pose as a break while the student who does not need a break, who does not need the standing split or whatever you’re doing –and that student takes forearm stand? Why is it ok if she needs to calm her breath, but not ok if she needs to crank up the volume? 

 When I hear about students in elementary school getting in trouble for going ahead or skipping ahead or reading ahead it makes me angry. This happened to me as a kid. Years later, hearing about it happening to others made me realize– it’s not about the kid when the adult gets angry about this. It’s about the adult.  Why isn’t that adult looking at why the kid is jumping ahead? Perhaps the kid isn’t challenged, perhaps the kid needs more. This is an opportunity to help this child along, not a reason to punish.

So is this class about you, teacher? Or the student? 

Is it an opportunity to help that student find his way (even to a different class)? To serve? For the most part, I teach multi-level power yoga classes. Why force everyone to be on the same page in an all-levels vinyasa class? In Bikram and led ashtanga, ok, I get it. In certain kinds of vinyasa classes where you just feel the space being held tightly (and even in a beautiful, peak pose or other way), sticking to the plan matters. I get it. But in the more open, malleable world of the all-levels class…..

Get over yourself.

I want everyone in my classes to realize their potential and to practice with what that day brings. I want them to be individuals– because they are. 

2. STUDENTS GOING OFF SCRIPT FOR PHYSICAL REASONS

So far I’ve talked about the students going off your script because they want more high octane or advanced variations or whatever. But there is also a whole bunch of people who want or need to do other things for physical reasons– and half of them walk into your class and DO NOT TELL YOU AND THEY ARE AFRAID OF HURTING YOUR FEELINGS AND THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOOKING DIFFERENT. 

Recently a student informed me during class that she’d had a hip replacement a month before. Another, stuff with her low back. A trick big toe. A new baby four months ago. Anxiety in forward folds. A trick left hamstring. Indeed much of my teaching comes from the trauma I experienced in the last few years, periods where the only poses I felt safe in were upside down lines. My point: students changing the choreography might actually need to.

3. STUDENTS GOING OFF SCRIPT LIKE WTF ON ANOTHER PLANET

I’m not sure about this one, to be honest. The “WTF another planet” yogi (for example, the student in half moon to triangle to side plank while you have the class in wheel pose). Also, the way-off-script yogi can range from another planet to just beyond the pale rude. So I think it depends. Perhaps it’s time to chat with the student. Maybe you’ll find out about their hearing problems, or their trick toe, or their need and desire for something else–and maybe you know just the class for them. I haven’t experienced this as a teacher, so let me know your experience. 

4. TEACHERS’ CHOREOGRAPHY CONCERNS

As for feeling attached to your carefully planned choreography, let’s get real: Is there anything original here? Get over yourself (within limits– if you teach bikram or led ashtanga or a specific peak pose type vinyasa class, I hear ya, the choreography is key).

Does this mean I allow a free for all and don’t do a thing? No. I teach more, I teach to individuals in the group and I think allowing us to be in the class as themselves allows more of the class to be in it together. I try to encourage people to stay with in the tunnel of movement and breath –particularly in sun salutations and within the architecture of what’s going on. 

I aim to be a cheerleader for students, on their side, to love them instead of judging them. When I feel judge-y about someone varying the class moves I’m teaching I turn the mirror back to me- why are my nonexistent yoga panties in a bunch over this? Why don’t I take this as an opportunity to serve those students?

If you want to be held to choreography, to move only as directed– you can find it. But in an all levels vinyasa? Yoga teacher, get over yourself.

(Or, make it clear that this is the kind of class you are teaching. So the students who want to let loose or might need breaks will know you aren’t the guide for them. You’re not a cute puppy– Not everyone is going to love you. No biggie.)

But as a teacher — why does it bug you? How much is the student distracting others, versus your chitta vritti? Is it about them, or is it about you?

Who is this class about, anyway?

(Look maybe we’re both right or maybe we’re both wrong. I’m probably wrong. I’m the girl in a handstand. So maybe it’s a need for more classes tailored to different kinds of students. Because in my experience I see a bit too much of people being held back from exploring.)

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In my nine years of teaching yoga and more time than that practicing yoga it seems the biggest problem we face is students giving all their power away to a teacher. Maybe it’s time we start giving it back to them —

And get the f&ck over ourselves.