tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post2294600341339522464..comments2023-09-30T07:02:42.218-05:00Comments on Grounding Thru The Sit Bones: Reading the Classroom (part two)Brenda P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15706976926804565629noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post-86656311582308595622007-07-11T13:05:00.000-05:002007-07-11T13:05:00.000-05:00Great post! After I began teaching, it became a s...Great post! After I began teaching, it became a struggle for me to separate the teaching from the learning or experiencing. Maybe that's the point. To not separate, and rather to join the two. A really excellent teacher is able to learn constantly from their students as they pass out some of what they already know.<BR/><BR/>My personal practice is when I really "bunker" down for some "me" time. With that said, if an awesome image or sequence comes to me, I used to stop and write it down to share later. Now, not so much. I've come to realize that to really practice what I preach; I too need time to stay focused on the silence within. <BR/><BR/>In a workshop or someone else's class, my intention is mostly to become a better teacher. So, I enjoy it, but really focus on how I can use it in teaching. It's my home practice that I tailor more for myself and that works well for me.<BR/><BR/>As for feedback, ever so often I hand out feedback forms. I've been doing this for years and perhaps one day I will stop, but it's been a decent way to allow people the opportunity to be honest and still remain anonymous.<BR/><BR/>Finally, as for traits of a teacher. To me the most important thing is knowledge, openness to share that knowledge, and seeing students as equals--not somehow "lesser" than the teacher. Todd Norian talks about taking the "seat of the teacher". The idea being that anyone may be in that seat at a given time--it's not "who you are" but where you are at that moment in time. <BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/>KrisKrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18112238121767903592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post-67089401735666841222007-07-10T17:19:00.000-05:002007-07-10T17:19:00.000-05:00Thanks for all the ideas...these are some good one...Thanks for all the ideas...these are some good ones. Kristin--I am a lot younger than some of my students, too. I guess, right now, "a lot younger" for me means in the early twenties. I'm glad my 60 yr. old students don't hold my age against me!<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>BrendaBrenda P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15706976926804565629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post-8887311973769488852007-07-10T15:44:00.000-05:002007-07-10T15:44:00.000-05:00I had to chuckle at your comments about watching w...I had to chuckle at your comments about watching what another instructor does during class! I find myself doing that and I remind myself this is a great opportunity to work on my own focus. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting such interesting thoughts and comments. I am significantly younger than some of my students, but that doesn't seem to bother them (they keep coming back). And I know there will come a time when a student will have more experience than I, but I hope they appreciate my class for what I have to offer, not what they can "get out of it". I think you can tell when an instructor is strong and accomplished in their practice and not just doing it because it's something cool to do. <BR/><BR/>I used to do a set lesson plan, but I found it didn't work very well. Now I have a loose idea what I would like to accomplish in a given class, but even that may go out the window depending on who walks in the door on any given day. (noting, I teach Ashtanga and Hatha classes.)<BR/><BR/>I always ask before class, "Does anyone have any questions?" Sometimes someone asks, most of the time silence. I always let my students know I encourage questions, and often I will get a question after class. <BR/><BR/>Hmm...good/bad traits. I like a teacher who keeps the class engaged and moving. I like a teacher who can explain internal alignment, but not too much (that talking bit). I like a teacher who can laugh during class. I like a teacher who goes to workshops. <BR/><BR/>I DON'T like a teacher who says, "this is the only way to do this practice". That makes me very upset and angry.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03357694767883126311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post-40886286407922589512007-07-09T20:43:00.000-05:002007-07-09T20:43:00.000-05:00One of the things my trainer said in a recent trai...One of the things my trainer said in a recent training was about saying less and breathing more. Working on our ujayi breath while walking around to assist is a powerful reminder to help our students to breathe.<BR/><BR/>I also like to ask for any requests before class any poses that students may want or areas that they would like to work on. I try to accommodate them. Also, at the end of class sometimes I ask and then can prepare for the next class with this in mind. <BR/><BR/>I am a new teacher (only started teaching since Jan) and I agree with you when you said that you will always be a teacher...it is very different for me to take classes without having that teacher mind set. I think that it ultimately helps my students though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28555295.post-67444342234318543512007-07-09T14:32:00.000-05:002007-07-09T14:32:00.000-05:00When I read your selence article I thought about t...When I read your selence article I thought about times when I'm teaching and am not aware that the class has sunk into a blissful state and I need to shut up and let them be. I guess it's an ego thing. Silence is scary to teachers - we think we need to be expounding great Truths non-stop. Maybe an approach for Pat is to give some reassurance to the teacher that their teaching is great, but ask for a chance to use it in some silent breaks too.Corileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08631656763570992256noreply@blogger.com