A Right Path

I have noticed that some teachers value their own style of yoga to the detriment of others. It is starting to remind me of religions that proclaim that their beliefs constitute the only "right" way. As a teacher, how can I set the tone at the beginning of class to help students keep an open mind, regardless of which postures they've been led through in previous classes? —Jena

Read Aadil's reply:

Dear Jena,

I often say that we should not profess to possess the truth, but a truth. It's not about right and wrong, it's about what is appropriate for each student's growth.

Students with certain constitutions need a very vigorous workout, and a carefully modified Ashtanga jumping sequence may be in order. Other students who are too elderly and frail to do a standard Ashtanga workout may need the support of props, as in the Iyengar system. Others may simply be looking for a way to enhance their lifestyle, and they need the philosophy of yoga as a stepping-stone. Yet others may be looking for an evolutionary approach to the practice, in which case Sri Aurobindo's yoga or Purna Yoga is in order.

At the beginning of class, the most important thing you can do is approach your students with an open mind. What we are, our students become. If you are open-minded, your students will become open-minded.

This, of course, does not mean that all forms of activity currently labeled "yoga" are valid. There are some approaches that I believe were created simply for commercial gain, and those I cannot endorse. These activities either give the students no benefit, or they cause injury, or they lead the student down an unyogic path—that is, a path toward the fulfillment of ego rather than spirit. This is the yoga trap, which you should carefully avoid.

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