Things I Promise Never to do as a Teacher

note: this post is because of taking a class last night. The class was taught by a sub and I totally wouldn't have gone had I known it wasn't the regular teacher. It was also an advanced class that was taught very much as level 1. But this is obviously another post.

Ahem.

Things I promise to never, ever do when I teach:

1. Talk excessively.
Talking and explaining is okay. Guiding students in and out of the postures is fine. What annoys me though is when you can't stop talking. About everything. Even during Savasana. Now, I understand a guided meditation to help with a beginner's class, but this was an advanced class. See #2.

2. Teach at a different level than listed.
If you're teaching a level 1-2 give options to make it harder or easier. If you're teaching a 2 allow for a hard practice and a long, silent savasana. If you are a substitute for someone else's advance class, may I suggest sun salutations? They are ass kickers, and everyone at that level will be familiar enough to get through it.

3. Adjust you constantly.
This is by FAR my largest pet peeve. Ever. Here's the thing I don't mind being corrected or adjusted in class. But when the first thing I say to you is when you come up to me in downward dog (which you will) is "my hamstrings are super tight, so that's not going to work" when you put your hands on my hips, you should believe me. After that, stop trying to adjust the same problem. Seriously. Why are you even doing that many adjustments in a level 2 class as a sub? Please leave the adjustments for the regular teacher who knows me and my body. Also please trust that I know my body better than you.

4. Do bizarre alternatives for postures
Most people in a level 2 class are going to know how to modify a position to make it work for them. If not, they will ask. So why are you requiring the entire class to do a specific modification? Unless you are trying to make a posture more restorative I don't see the reason.

5. Tell my life story
This probably goes up at the top under "Talk Excessively". Giving a quick "thanks for letting me sub today I've been teaching for x years and this is my first time at this studio" is great. One sentence. One breath.

That's all I got for now, but this will probably grow. I might even dedicate an entire post to #3 since it's so important.