As yoga becomes more popular and new styles emerge, a yoga teacher's priority should always be her students' safety and well being. Lately I've subbed for other teachers and I'm mortified to see how students move into and out of poses. I've also noticed that many students are unable to move through different poses without visual cues. Admittedly, I still demonstrate more than I should and it's something I work on in each class. I try to improve me cues and encourage my students to feel rather than watch. In doing so I hope to encourage my students to explore movement in their own body not mine or their neighbour's. I want them to have the confidence nd mindfulness to practice on their own. It also gives me the chance to see how my students are moving and how I can help them move more purely.

Understandably, when I sub a class I've a different style that might need some time getting used to but I wonder if there is a general lack of adaptability to a new teaching style, a resistance to change or perhaps my cues aren't as universal as they need to be. Then again, these observations are most obvious when I sub for a fitness based class such as power yoga. In these cases, some students react with complete disinterest to my gentler teaching style and others express their gratitude for a change in perspective.

Ultimately, it comes down to the intention of the student. I know why I'm there and I know what yoga means to me. If students practice yoga just for fitness then they are not the students for me. There's still a little girl that wants to be liked by everyone and to make everyone happy. As I mature, however, I realize that this is impossible and unnecessary. By trying to please everyone I sacrifice a bit of my authenticity and I did too much of that as a biologist. Not to mention the students I do have are the best ones in the world!!