Common Mistakes Yoga Teachers Make - Introduction

Introduction to a three part series about common mistakes yoga Instructors make and how to avoid them. Yoga, through its various forms, when practised consistently, changes human beings for the better. Apart from living an emotionally and physically healthy life, you also become a better human being. But, in order to benefit the most from practising yoga, you must practise yoga under the guidance of a trained and a qualified teacher. The one most important aspect of practising yoga, especially poses or postures, is to practise it safely. Yoga postures when not practised accurately, pose a risk of injuries.

In this video, Dr. Paul Jerard sets a background on some of the common mistakes that yoga teachers make, and ways to avoid such mistakes. Dr. Jerard first explains the pattern or sequence in which yoga teachers typically teach students. Ideally, yoga teachers must begin with demonstrating the poses. Next, when students perform these poses, observe them, and then assist them if required. Here, Dr. Jerard points out that some yoga teachers do not pay attention to their students. This might make the students feel ignored. Teachers must keep in mind that teaching yoga is not just about demonstrating the poses accurately, they need to complete the sequence of teaching by observing the students and assisting them wherever required.

Moreover, it is important to observe the students for their safety – for practising a pose in a wrong manner gives rise to risks of injury. To tackle this problem, Dr. Jerard suggests that teachers should observe their students sufficiently; as a best practice, it would be good to take a round or two in the room where the students are performing the poses, especially poses such as Downward Dog, Fish, Plough, and Shoulder Stand.

Next, in the video, Dr. Jerard then shares some tips about how to go about observing the students. For instance, you could observe the students while you are seated on a mat, but for exercises such as Sun Salutations, also known as Suryanamaskar, and Vinayasa Flows, it may be a good idea to take a round in the class to observe the students and assist them if required. Likewise, when students are performing Hatha yoga exercises, where they are required to hold the poses, it would be good to observe the students by taking a round or two, instead of observing them from a corner of the room or by just being seated on the mat.