Yoga Class Observations.
Why and How to get them for yoga-teachers in Training
One of the most daunting things for me during my yoga teacher trainings was to approach other teachers to observe their classes.
Even as an established teacher doing a new training to certify as a pregnancy and postnatal yoga teacher I had this niggling self doubt about asking if I could observe and learn from other teachers. Not entirely sure why I had such discomfort and it doesn’t really matter. Now I love observing classes. Even though I have been teaching yoga for around 10 years and is a well established pre- and postnatal yoga teacher I still want to learn from my colleagues.
And maybe that is what new teachers and teachers-in-training forget. This whole yoga community is our colleague.
I am writing this blog post for two reasons.
I am a teacher trainer expecting my students to observe other teachers as part of their certification
I am a teacher who often gets requests for observing my classes from teachers-in-training
As a teacher trainer I know how valuable it is for my students to observe. They come back inspired, learn how different teachers approach their teaching and students, how classes work in various settings (such a big well equipped yoga studios, church halls, office spaces, small random rooms. A massive group or small and intimate classes), and they create new connections with fellow teachers who might just ask them to assist or cover them. It is a very valuable part of a training.
I used to teach on YogaLondon’s pregnancy and postnatal teacher training course and until we experience a prenatal class we have no idea how pregnant women move. Not to mention the unpredictability and potential “chaos” of a postnatal mum and baby class.
Observing classes gets us thinking and opens up space to ask questions in our teacher training courses so we feel supported on our journey.
As a teacher trainer I love when we get great feedback from our fellow teachers; they enjoyed having the student observe them, they were super helpful, they want them to come back to cover… However, it is not always a smooth journey.
Teacher trainees need to be willing to put themselves out there. Sending a ‘group email’ or general email to a yoga studio will most likely get you nowhere. Studios get hundreds of emails and the administration of forwarding them to the appropriate teachers is just too complicated. Even if a studio has a “no observation policy” connect with the individual teacher. Find teachers in various directories, google searches or local noticeboards. Facebook groups for yoga teachers are also a great way to connect.
Tips for getting your observations
When you connect with an individual teacher either in a studio or independently consider how you approach them.
Do not turn up unannounced or expect you can come to a class the same day as you request.
Most approach a teacher by email but picking up the phone is also fine (although a full-time yoga teacher has limited phone time, we can’t answer when we are teaching or on transport!). It sounds obvious but sending is text message is an absolute no go. How much information can you fit in a text?
Greet your chosen teacher. I had emails saying Hey There as a greeting. My name is Anja and that is pretty easy to figure out when you look on my website. It’s fine for a yoga student to greet or not, but not for someone asking to observe.
Introduce yourself. I want to know your name, what course are you doing, who are you training with? Is there anything specific that interest you in your training, something your specifically want to learn, observe, practise… If I invite you into my classes I want to know who is coming.
Why do you want to observe my classes? You don’t need to write a list of how wonderful you think this particular teacher is. But when, as an observed teacher, you receive a very general copied email it is just a bit sad.
Reply back within a few days. If I invite you to my class I would like a confirmation that you are indeed coming. I am reserving a space for you. Maybe turning another teacher trainee away. Perhaps I am letting my students and studio know you are coming.
Turn up as promised. No shows are just disrespectful and discourage the teacher to accept other requests. Plus you (and your training course) will have a bit of a reputation of not being reliable. Not great for a yoga teacher.
You are building your yoga network, getting new colleagues, friends and cover teachers. This is extremely important as a yoga teacher. So please bear in mind how you approach and acknowledge the teachers you would like to observe.
For some of us, this is all very obvious but not everyone has experience with this kind of communication. I get some beautiful emails from trainees so excited about their journey, their training and how they would love to come to observe. Maybe they heard about me from another teacher, training course or friend. Perhaps they are already one of my students. They keep in touch and maybe come again to learn more or receive mentoring sessions.
Sadly I had so many emails almost demanding an observation, some not even mentioning their name (yes, really), I have invited students to come but it took them 6 weeks to return my message requesting to come the following day, I had emails with students not telling me what kind of class they want to observe or what kind of training they do (prenatal/postnatal/regular yoga?) and then the dreaded no-shows.
I am writing this blog simply because I would love for you, dear teacher trainee, to get the best response, open the doors for other students to come to that specific teacher too, and most of all for you to learn and grow.
Enjoy the journey,
Anja
Let me know how you get on and join me on instagram and check out my online offerings too.
September 18, 2015