Yoga masterclass is designed to help both teachers and students understand and incorporate some of the finer nuances of yoga into their practices. For anyone to advance in their yoga practice it is vital that they learn optimal body positioning for each of asana. This in no way implies that there is a perfect position, but rather supports the idea that every person’s body is unique to each asana.
Each yoga posture is meant to have a deeper affect on particular glands, organs and systems of the body. In addition, the posture opens the pathways of energy in the subtle body so that prana may move unhindered. If the student is working in a posture that is causing restriction either physically or to the breath, then that posture needs to be adjusted around the limitations and abilities of the student. It is up to the teacher to recognize these issues in each of their students. Teaching yoga is more than walking around class, regurgitating well-rehearsed vinyasas, and spouting off occasional tidbits of yogic philosophy. This does not place the full responsibility on the teacher, as each Yogi is responsible for deepening their own physical and mental understanding of the practice they have undertaken.
For the Teacher
Becoming adept at posture adjustments will make you a much better teacher. This comes with cultivating a sense of asana visual awareness. You are not looking at how your student can make the pose look better, but rather how the student can find freedom within the pose. If your student is in the upward wheel pose, and you see that they are having a tough time, you need to be able to spot immediately if the trouble is coming from their shoulders, their quadriceps or their abdominals. Begin to train your eye see which part of the body is restricting the other parts from opening. Understand that the energy in the area of tension is not moving, and may be affecting the student’s entire practice. Using light touch, drawing directional lines on their clothes with your finger and sometimes giving them strong support in bigger asanas will help them move into their practice much deeper and much faster. Do not be afraid to adjust your students. They will appreciate you for your effort, and you will save them from injury and overuse of muscle energy.
For the Student
Your teacher is only there to facilitate the opportunity for you to become better in your practice. They are meant to inspire you, and with that inspiration you are expected to create a stronger practice. Never hesitate to ask your teacher for a postural adjustment, and certainly never feel offended if your teacher comes to you with a postural correction, be it verbal or physical. When you are adjusted, close your eyes and feel the difference in your body. Begin to have inner awareness as well as a physical sensational coherence of each posture. Remember that there is never a correct way to perform a posture, but there certainly is a way to perform the posture to your greatest benefit.
The tradition of yoga, as it has been passed down through the centuries, is about the essential relationship between teacher and student. The student comes to the teacher asking for guidance and insight into the mystical teachings and applications of yoga. The teacher accepts the responsibility of the tutelage of this student and thereafter has the duty of supplying that student with as much wisdom as possible. This relationship, though often ignored in today's yoga arenas, is still very necessary for both the student and teacher to continue to grow as yogis.
