how to create a safe and loving yoga environment

When a student comes to the mat, there's an implied contract they make with you as teacher. Staying safe, honoring one's self, and practicing ahimsa (non-harming) is of primary importance.

As teachers, however, we cannot be wholly responsible for our students' safety. We need to teach them to take responsibility for themselves and to build self-awareness. This may mean learning and respecting their limitations, learning to self-adjust, and practicing with less ego and more love for their wellbeing.

You will find yourself saying to your students the phrases "honor your body" and "if appropriate, you might try this option." Please take time to explain what you actually mean by saying this as it will not be self-evident for most people.

I use a technique I call "percenting things out" for folks. I suggest that, once they tune in to themselves through their breath, the students use every pose to assess with mindful awareness the appropriate effort to engage.

I would say, "Let's really challenge ourselves in a radical way…Why not make only a 50 percent effort, or if you're really tired, only 30 percent effort? Does every class, every pose require 110 percent effort for the most difficult option? Try less hard poses and take more breaks if that's what you need today."

Keeping everyone safe means that we as teachers will encourage our students to rest when necessary and make intelligent choices in maintaining balance between challenging themselves and softening.

This practice is for the individual, and as such, our intuition (inner teacher) will guide us. Our freedom to treat ourselves with respect and kindness is one of life's greatest gifts!

Let's teach our students to choose wisely for themselves. Give them space and autonomy to listen to their hearts, and no harm will come to them.

See the link below:

China Yoga Products Manufacturers Suppliers Factory - Cheap Yoga Products Wholesale (faithmat.com)

Take a moment and remember what it was like to walk into your first yoga class. As you reflect on that experience, how can you as a teacher make an even more loving impression on your students?

Think of these five senses-sight, hearing, smell, love, laughter-and address each one.

• Maintain a clean, visually appealing, and orderly space.
• Creating a welcoming mood, a retreat from the chaos of the day. Play calming music in the waiting area and in the classroom (or studio) to help the student make an easy transition.
• Use aromatherapy and burn candles or incense.
• Help students feel comfortable with their surroundings. This means acquainting them with the setting (where shoes go, where the bathroom is, etc.)
• Use humor to put students at ease. Laugh often, especially at yourself, for making mistakes.

Finally, as a teacher, you cannot energetically take all the responsibility for creating a loving environment. You are just one person.

Enlist your students' support and encourage them to get to know one another. We are stronger by coming together in yoga (union). Each student in class contributes immensely to the loving environment necessary to help us move deeper into our own hearts during practice.