I have been teaching for four months at the clinic. Now I am planning for the hand-off. It is my hope that the counselors will continue to practice yoga themselves, as well as lead patient classes. We just need to find the right balance between too much and not enough. I have another month at the clinic but I’d like the counselors to take over so that we can see what works and make adjustments if there are problems.
I have been covering a variety of topics in the non-practice trainings: anatomy, injuries, pre-natal, sequencing, etc… Yesterday, I reviewed the information that I gathered at the Trauma Center at JRI’s Trauma Sensitive Yoga Training. My trauma counselors seemed to respond well to the themes (Present Moment, Moving with Direction/Purpose, Taking Effective Action, Choice, Moving in Rhythm with Others) and how to use language to promote these themes in class.
Language is so critical, yet I have been operating without it in many ways. I have picked up enough Burmese to lead about 2/3 of the class — but what I say is not nuanced. I encourage present moment awareness with the breath — but I don’t remind often enough about “feet on the floor, hands on the mat”. I don’t use invitatory language (“If you would like, when you are ready…) nor do I use enough choice language (“Make big circles or small, keep your neck up or slowly bring it down (Fish)”) or offer enough modifications (“Bend the knees, your hands may feel better like this”).
To ensure that the counselors understand and use these words, I had them translate my English phrases into Burmese and I tried to convey the importance of these subtle phrases in a trauma yoga setting.
It was a great reminder for me as well. There are alot of balls to keep in the air when you are teaching. You explain, watch and assist. But the way you say your words is also extremely important. Whether for trauma survivors or the general public, I think the way that we talk in a yoga class goes a long way to empowering our students.
