Teaching Yoga Poses | Attendance Dips or New Skill Growth?
Edited By
Tariq Jafari
A vinyasa instructor, now in their third year, poses a question: Are monthly peak poses boosting attendance or pushing students away? With a mix of set and varying challenges, the response from students raises concerns and hope alike.
The Teaching Dilemma
The instructor teaches seven classes weekly, two of which follow a set sequence. In five classes, they implement a peak pose approach this year, experimenting with complex asanas such as wheel, crow, and bird of paradise. While many appreciate the novelty of new poses, attendance sometimes dips slightly, sparking questions about student preferences.
Insights from Fellow Instructors
Comments from other seasoned instructors provide a clutch of advice:
Encourage Handling Options: "Create different options for each student on the journey to the peak pose," one instructor noted. They suggest enriching simpler poses to bolster excitement and participation.
Frame It Differently: Another teacher mentioned, "Sometimes I find the way you frame it can go a long way." Presenting alternatives enticingly could keep more students engaged.
Balance Challenge and Empowerment: One commenter remarked that understanding student limits is vital: "Maybe you aren’t giving your students sufficient understanding of how long it takes bodies to change."
"Some months I wonder if I lose a few students who feel they can’t do the pose"
Student Sentiments
The feedback reflects a mixture of positivity and concern about the impact of peak poses:
Mixed Feedback for New Poses: "I wouldn’t take lower attendance personally," stated one commenter.
Retention Challenges: Some students may feel overwhelmed with difficult poses, affecting their overall commitment.
Long-Term Commitment: A seasoned student echoed, "Commitment and self-directed effort is more important than anything else for progressing."
Key Points to Consider
🌟 A significant portion of students (25-30%) attempt new poses within the first week.
🎭 Teaching styles vary greatly among instructors; some prefer a theme over peaks.
💪 Averaging 50% competency by two weeks reflects progress but indicates a struggle for some.
Moving Forward
The teacher plans to continue asking for student recommendations regarding future peak poses, maintaining a balance between challenge and mastery. The goal remains clear: empower all students while ensuring that no one feels left behind as they navigate their yoga journeys together. Curiously, can a small shift in teaching method solve a significant attendance issue?