Teacher training nuggets

We are now half way through the 3-week teacher training intensive, and even in just 10 days there has been so much information that my head is spinning. I really hope I am able to retain it all (or at least some of it) so that I can incorporate it into my own practice, as well as my teaching.

Here are just some of the useful nuggets so far:

Teach people, not poses. Although the yoga asanas are important, it is far more useful if we can pay attention to the people in our classes and find ways to give them safe, healthy access to these asana. Their needs are more important than the lesson plan or the playlist.

Recognise a student's challenge and help them. That is the gift of a great teacher.

Standing poses are the safest, easiest and most accessible way to open the hips - especially for people who have really stiff hips. That way we can work towards opening the hips without breaking the knees.

Give cues and instructions for the majority, but be aware that certain individuals may have other needs. While the majority of the class might have stiff hamstrings - and so will need to work on extending the chest forward in forward bends - the super-flexible members of the class will need another set of cues to stop them over-extending in forward bends, risking injury to the sacrum.