When the #MeToo movement denounced sexual harassment spread through Yoga, the most asked questions posted on social media is that “Is yoga room a healing space or it creates a culture, combining mental surrender with ... physical obedience?
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In 2017, allegations of sexual abuse yoga masters emerged, including Bikram Choudhury, who considered himself a "god" and "wanted to do whatever he wanted." In April 2018, nine women made public disclosure of abuse at the hands of one of the most famous, influential and revered masters in Yoga - Pattabhi Jois. The public with horrific stories of abuse and harassment in gymnastics, Hollywood, etc. so yoga abuses don't get much attention.
Here are 6 signs of a bad Yoga teacher that we should avoid so you don’t waste your time and money.
1. They try to touch the students’ bodies without their permission.
A woman in Yoga class shared her story: "One day, a yoga teacher sat near me, put my hand on my chest, and felt. I felt uncomfortable, scared but didn't know what to do. I thought, "Maybe it is just a Yoga pose," so I didn't dare to ask anything. After class, I left as quickly as possible because I felt extremely uncomfortable. Another day, when the other practitioners had left, the yoga teacher tried to force me to kiss me, but I said that I had a boyfriend, did not care about him, and he made me tired. In the end, he also let me go. "
Another woman also told me about her horrific experience of attending a Yoga class: "On the first day, the Yoga teacher took me to his room. I thought we would meditate, but he started touching me and kissed me. He asked if I liked him, but I didn't answer. It was not until one knocked on the door that I was released."
I encourage you to ask teachers questions when you need them and never allow you to touch the parts you don't want. If they do, please leave this class and never come back.
2. They are not sure about themselves.
They don’t know the English name for the posture and also the Sanskrit one. It makes sense that when your Yoga teacher puts you in a position with their instructor, he/she won't confuse you with the fancy words they can spell. But, once they want to instruct you, at least they should tell you the name of the posture you use in the official language.
They don’t say anything but the words “Inhale”, “Exhale” and the name of the pose. Barking out the name of the pose isn't teaching. It just calls the name of the pose. You like Yoga vinyasa means you like MOVING. Still, if your teacher can't combine any ADJUSTMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, CHANGE, MODIFY, ENERGY, or ACTION into their flow, you won't learn in the right way. At last, you may undoubtedly get hurt.
3. They make the class about them.
They talk more about themselves than they listen to their students. They seem more interested in showing you how much his practice is better than helping you cultivate yourself. They spend most of their class time talking about how famous he is. Or maybe they always teach poses that the class is not ready to nurture his ego by watching the jaw drop as he shows the posture.
4. They don’t ask any health and safety questions before starting.
Yoga teachers cannot know everything, but they need a basic knowledge of safety. If your instructor never asks a student's health questions before conducting exercises, give up this class right away. Some yoga asanas are not suitable for people with osteoarthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure. Therefore, a yoga teacher who doesn't care about your health is terrible, which can lead to harm when practicing difficult movements.
5. They try to manipulate their students.
They push their belief in you. Yoga is not a religion so that you don’t need to follow any belief when practicing Yoga.
Hardcore Yoga teacher often makes their practice and philosophy their lives. Most daily exercise, meditation, and pranayama, and many vegans to avoid harming sentient beings. If they start preaching on the "right" way to be a good practitioner, they can make you feel inadequate about the choices you make. Without a supportive or comfortable environment, you will not feel confident in your rug. Find a teacher whose views don't clash with you.
6. Students’ bodies ache a lot.
You come to yoga because your body hurts, so why you have to suffer more pain when you practice Yoga? Because your mind has entered a state of complete dissatisfaction and conflict, and you can feel it visually. If you receive those feedback from a former student about a Yoga class that their bodies become more painful after practicing, DO NOT REGISTER. You may have other reasons why it is not the right Yoga class for you.
7. They are always late.
Punctuality is a characteristic of a person who lives with principles. Especially when you practice Yoga for a long time, you will feel extremely uncomfortable when doing something late. When a teacher is late, unless they have a good reason, it shows that they are not serious in yoga practice.
One of the goals of Yoga is to achieve self-discipline and discipline. Regardless of the form of Yoga, the essential and vital requirement is self-discipline, without which one cannot see the positive results of Yoga. If their delay repeats many times, it causes the students to waste time waiting and creating a sense of distrust about this yoga teacher. Are they eligible to teach students when they don't respect other people's precious time?
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As a newbie to Yoga, it is essential to consider choosing a Yoga teacher. You should find a teacher with good religious and moral qualifications. Ask for feedback from former students of the Yoga teacher, or read the comments on their social media. You may find useful information before attending a new Yoga class.
Work cited:
Sugar, Jenny. “It's Time to Break Up . . . With Your Yoga Instructor.” POPSUGAR Fitness, 8 Feb. 2014, www.popsugar.com/fitness/Signs-Bad-Yoga-Instructor-23589758.
Godwin, Richard. “'He Said He Could Do What He Wanted': the Scandal That Rocked Bikram Yoga.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 18 Feb. 2017, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/18/bikram-hot-yoga-scandal-choudhury-what-he-wanted.
Griswold, Eliza. “Yoga Reconsiders the Role of the Guru in the Age of #MeToo.” The New Yorker, www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/yoga-reconsiders-the-role-of-the-guru-in-the-age-of-metoo.
Editors, YJ. “5 Signs of a Bad Yoga Teacher.” Yoga Journal, 5 Feb. 2013, www.yogajournal.com/blog/5-signs-of-a-bad-yoga-teacher.
Sugar, Jenny. “It's Time to Break Up . . . With Your Yoga Instructor.” POPSUGAR Fitness, 8 Feb. 2014, www.popsugar.com/fitness/Signs-Bad-Yoga-Instructor-23589758.
“How To Spot A Bad Yoga Teacher: 10 Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore " Apothecary7.” Apothecary7, 16 June 2017, blog.apothecary7.com/spot-a-bad-yoga-teacher/.
“Self Discipline For Yoga: White Swan Foundation.” WhiteSwanFoundation, 27 May 2020, www.whiteswanfoundation.org/article/how-does-self-discipline-help-in-yoga-practice/.
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