Anusara Teacher Training, first weekend
We had our first weekend of Keric's and my 60-hour Anusara Teacher Training at Siesta Yoga. It was such a success. This is my fifth Teacher Training in my life, but my first ever Anusara Teacher Training. I was quite nervous leading up to it, and yet on the day of, I felt such a resounding calm. The great thing about teaching Anusara yoga is that I get to practice all the uplifting and life-affirming philosophy that I am teaching. I kept relaxing my body, breathing with awareness, to the point where I just knew that the training would be fabulous.
And so far it has been! Keric and I work really well together. I trust him completely and feel so at ease with him. We planned every week for many months and designed a really strong structure for our students. And, oh, the students. They are the sweetest most supportive group. Almost everyone knows each other. Some have been teaching for a while but most are new to teaching. The group is big enough to break into different groups and to feel like a nice-sized class, and yet small enough that it feels nurturing and safe (there's 14 people).
Keric and I start the training with an hour-and-a-half practice. We wanted to model to the students what they will be teaching one day. We are trying our best to keep our opening to 5-7 minute, just like we are supposed to in an Anusara class. We are trying to have a clear theme that links to the highest purposes of practicing yoga, a personal story and a heart quality (or qualities). We also choose a UPA to focus on and have a peak pose. Then we have a practice.
Afterwards we deconstruct the class and the students get to see if the theme was clear and most importantly, how we constructed the class. Hopefully the students start to see how it is done and how doable it can be. Keric and I really want to demystify teaching, while also honoring who challenging and artistic it is.
Then we have the students journal about the particular UPA we are focusing one, share that with someone so that their articulation skills can be honed. Then we have them teach a pose using those words that came from their own experience. We then give them a break. When we come back we do more teaching exercises. As the training progresses we will bring (we did already actually) philosophy, some therapeutics, adjustment and always end in meditation.
We will continue to hone the training to keep serving our student's needs. I was so blown away though by the fact that one the very first weekend, every single person taught a full Surya Namaskar A to someone else (and some taught to the whole group!). We wanted to get the students up and teaching already so that they wouldn't feel overwhelmed by teaching. And I believe that it is when you know how to get a student safely and effectively in and out of poses, that you then can bring in all the artistry of theming that Anusara is so famous for.
What an amazing gift it is to be part of this training. I can't wait to be back and to watch the students and Keric and I continue to grow as individuals and as a community.
Off to teach- have a great day everyone!
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