Teaching Spiritual Practice

I would like to begin teaching a more spiritual type of yoga. I've been teaching hatha yoga to my students but practicing chanting and meditation in my personal practice. How do I promote this without scaring students away?
—Jo-Anne Muchan

Read John Friend's response:

Dear Jo-Anne,

Although many yoga teachers know, from their own experience, the spiritual power of chanting, meditation, and Shakti-oriented asana practice, some will teach only a physically-focused class. They are afraid that spiritually oriented practices, or even discussions, might make some students uncomfortable.

Some of the first yoga classes that I taught in the early '80s were in a YMCA and a YWCA in a conservative area of Texas. Almost all of my students were Christians who considered themselves from the "buckle of the Bible Belt." Instead of completely compromising my teachings and avoiding speaking about spirit or offering meditation or chanting in class, I explained to the students in simple terms how these practices would enhance the religious and spiritual practices that they were already committed to. For example, I would instruct the students to breathe in goodness and other universal virtues in order to more fully embody Spirit. Regardless of their religious background, students embraced these yogic teachings as a way to deepen their connection to God.

I think the key challenge for yoga teachers in integrating spirituality into the classroom is to clearly articulate spiritual ideas and practices in ways that are down to earth and easily understood by the particular students in that class. When we attempt to teach spirituality without proper explanations, the teachings come out sounding New Agey or airy-fairy. Students hear these spiritual platitudes out of context and quickly become turned off to the teacher and sometimes even to the style of yoga. They may also question whether their own religious or spiritual beliefs are in conflict with the doctrine presented by the yoga teacher. Thus poor communication and superficial teaching can lead to confusion or disinterest among the students, who may end up quitting that teacher or even the practice of yoga itself.

Here are a few teaching suggestions for effectively integrating meditation, chanting, or other spiritual teachings into a hatha yoga class so that students embrace the teachings:

• Clearly set a context for the teachings. Explain concisely why we do the practice and how it works, using terms that the students can relate to. For instance, if you want to chant during the class, present a clear and succinct overview of the power of chanting before beginning. Define unknown Sanskrit words or sounds. Even if the students don't understand the exact meaning of the chant, you can teach them that the key to chanting lies in the power of their heart's intention. They can create their own prayer and heartfelt wishes and send them out with the sounds of the chant.
• Find a common philosophical ground with the students in order to communicate effectively. Teaching spirituality can be tricky because various philosophies and religious doctrines use special jargon to encompass key ideas. If you use that jargon, then you must define it. For instance, most people value goodness, happiness, and the desire to relieve suffering. Use these ideas when presenting the spiritual practices and your teachings will be more easily accepted.
• Provide personal anecdotes and down-to-earth examples of the effectiveness and specific benefits of these practices. Instead of emphasizing psychic side-effects of some practices, like experiences of Light or inner sounds, tell the students how the practices have helped you become a better person. If you describe your own spiritual experience in terms of the universal virtues you have cultivated through the practices, then students will be able feel the genuineness of your presentation and it will be easier for them to relate to what you're saying.

Follow your heart and don't hold back in sharing with your students the highest aspects of yoga that you have experienced. Ground your stories in something substantial by contextualizing what you are offering. Make them poignant and meaningful by presenting them in universal, understandable, and usable ways. Just because it is more difficult to effectively integrate spiritual teachings and practices into a hatha yoga class, don't forfeit your ideals. Remain committed to the ultimate purpose of yoga as a potent spiritual practice that ultimately leads one to the power of the heart. Otherwise you're essentially teaching nothing more than an exercise class with some South Asian flare.

John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga, has practiced a variety of hatha yoga styles since the early '70s. Today, he is widely considered one of the most charismatic and highly respected yoga teachers in the world. Blending an uplifting Tantric yoga philosophy with Universal Principles of Alignment, John's teaching style guides each student to fully live every moment from the heart. In 1997, John founded Anusara Yoga to promote his innovative vision. Today, Anusara Yoga is one of the most popular and fastest growing schools of hatha yoga in the world.