A few minutes before I was about to teach a recent yoga therapy class a middle-aged woman named Fran shuffled through the studio door, her shoulders slumped and demeanor apologetic. I could immediately sense Fran’s discomfort and fear that she wouldn’t be welcomed. I asked if this was her first yoga experience. “Yes,” she said. “Wonderful,” I replied, then proceeded to ask if she had any injuries or conditions I should be aware of. With her eyes averted towards the floor, she rattled off a list of ailments from arthritis to low back pain to a sprained ankle that was taking a while to heal. She said she had been to doctors, but they could do little to help, so a friend suggested she try yoga. I told her that I didn’t know if yoga therapy alone could heal her ailments, but we were all happy to have her and she was at the perfect place to start exploring a yoga practice. By the time she found her seat and class began I could see, that without even starting to address her physical ailments, she was already starting to feel better.
In my experience, these introductory moments are a crucial time to feel out what’s going on with a new student, show that you completely accept them as they are, and communicate both verbally and energetically that you care. In Health, Healing and Beyond T.K.V. Desikachar states, “All that a teacher of Yoga can guarantee, to repeat, is: ‘I can care’. It appears that more often than not something beneficial will happen.”
With the discovery of mirror neurons, we can better understand how these simple introductions set the stage on not just an emotional, but a neurological level, for healing to begin. “Found in several areas of the brain, mirror neurons fire in response to chains of actions linked to intentions” explains Sandra Blakeslee in her New York Times article Cells That Read Minds. Basically, our mirror neurons allow us to instantaneously perceive, understand and internalize the actions and motives of others. These highly specialized neurons are how we empathize with others, why we literally “feel” their pain, shame, sorrow or joy. As a teacher (or human being for that matter), your empathy towards others allows you to tune in to their inner state, and their mirror neurons are immediately touched by the fact that you care. This, of course, is helpful to keep in mind when taking on a class full of students with different physical needs.
My group yoga therapy classes are a catchall for students with a vast spectrum of serious injuries and conditions. In my ‘Yoga Tune Up®: Pain Relief’ class there are students with torn rotator cuffs, severed tendons, fibromyalgia, cancer, herniated disks, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. A common denominator I have felt among students living with ongoing physical pain is the fear that their discomfort will never cease. After repeated attempts to heal, they often lose hope and personalize their pain – exacerbating it with feelings of guilt or shame. Like Fran, by the time they show up at a yoga therapy class they have generally already undergone specialized treatment or therapies, to varying degrees of efficacy, and oftentimes entering the studio is their last resort.
While each individual body may have unique needs, it is reassuring to know that the attitude you bring as a teacher will resonate across the board. As each student soaks up an alternative, positive attitude toward a student’s physical ailment, they immediately mirror it, and their energy begins to shift. As with Fran, they become more settled, relaxed, open and warm. The combined energy of the group can enhance this “vibe”, finding lightness and humor while experimenting with different techniques to facilitate healthy transformation in damaged or compromised tissue. Whether or not the individual symptoms subside, the experience of being in a space where the students feel safe and cared for can go a long way toward relieving their discomfort.
Desikachar states: “It is not the most brilliant intellect that makes such a teacher. It is the inner capacity to care about someone else more than yourself.” By simply energetically conveying empathy to each new student or person that you meet, showing that you genuinely care, the healing begins.
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I hadn’t heard of mirror neurons, good it was scientifically proven. I like your last quote very much. Btw, teaching yoga without caring must be very boring. I mean not only for students… but also for the teacher himself ;-))
Wonderfully written. Reading this I was reminded of how anything you are personally carrying can affect any of your clients and or groups you are around. Creating that warmth and welcoming already begins the healing process. Thank you for the reminder.
As an esthetician working in a busy spa, I was often asked by newer estheticians how I retained my clientele. I did not follow the standard protocal to retain and prebook clients. The only thing I could ever come up with is “I care.” This article explains the physiology behind why. So interesting! Thank you!
Such a great point about how when we feel welcomed and accepted, we feel so much more at ease and better able to accept ourselves as we are.
Thank you for the reminder that it’s not necessarily what we “do” as teachers, but how we “are” . As I get more and more experienced as a yoga teacher, I find that my ability to feel the energy of each student as well as the entire room increases. Your reference to mirror neurons brings to mind a quote from Judith Hanson Lasater who says, “Your primary job as a yoga teacher is to mirror back the inner radiance and inherent goodness in each human being”. I agree with you Ariel, that if we can meet our students with a positive outlook that is grounded in honesty and compassion, we are setting the stage for them to feel safe and confident in their practice and journey towards healing.
Love it! Our attitude is like a placebo effect on the physical body and our student pain. “It is not the most brilliant intellect that makes such a teacher. It is the inner capacity to care about someone else more than yourself.” This quotes says it all. Personally, I suffer from chronic pain and I know my state of mind definitely affect the level of pain I experience. And when I have a loved one around me that cares about what I’m going through, the pain is always less intense. <3
I just heard about mirror neurons for the first time today! I never knew the scientific term, but I’ve absolutely felt that from my teachers, and now from my students. I believe it has a lot to do with why we get attached to particular instructors. You feel safe with them, you feel seen by them. Great reminder on how empathy is so powerful. Thank you.
This is a great reminder. I used to be terrified of speaking in front of groups, then I became a YTU teacher. ha! I am a very empathetic person but still have that bit of uneasiness starting a conversation with a student I haven’t met before. I will think of this next time it happens!
I love the reminder as a teacher to really communicate verbally and non verbally that you care. The scientific information about mirror neurons was really helpful in understanding how healing and empathy work on a neurological level.
I love the quotes you picked from Desikachar
“It is not the most brilliant intellect that makes such a teacher. It is the inner capacity to care about someone else more than yourself.”
So true.
Thank you.
This is a great article. I love the reminder of the importance of communication and how critical it is to greet any new member of your class, no matter who they are!
A beautiful article. Lovingly written. The care and compassion we can offer our students IS the Pose. These first moments of connection truly have the capacity to heal and bridge gaps. Everything else is secondary.
This article was so profound, I always try to make students feel welcome but I didn’t realize the potency of mirror neurons, I will take this information to heart and remind myself of it’s importance at the beginning of each class I teach. Thank you so much
I appreciate the link between Desikachar’s guidance for teachers and the functional effect of mirror neurons. It’s true that when people come to yoga they’ve already tried so many other things, and so come with a sense of helplessness. An excellent teacher’s reflecting the possibility of shifting did so much for working wth my own chronic injuries!
Wow thank you for that! It was profound for me. I never knew of mirror neurons but can feel to a great extent. Which in the begining was difficult to comprehend and scary as well. As I began to watch and observe I began to see how I could sense anothers pain/sorrow/fear etc and “flip it” to the opposite and positive emotion. I didnt really know what was happening other then it felt so much better. Having others, especially teachers and people in the health and wellness industry truley care has had a huge impact on me in a positive way. Ive felt it the other way and that dosnt work. Sometimes its just a simple smile or you ok? to change someones reality. This article helped me to understand more what is actually happening and gives me more ambition to continue on my path and to make it greater and brighter for all.
Hi Ariel, this is so beautiful, thank you for sharing this. I think this is a gift that you share with anybody who is fortunate enough to experience your healing presence. I’m learning so much about the human body, but it is becoming clearer to me that it’s so much more important to teach from the heart center, from a place of love and compassion. Thank you for reminding us!
Love how this piece weaves western science and heart essence of yoga together. Thank you.
Thank you for the post. One of my favourite sayings by Maya Angelou is “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
In my job, I work with a lot of babies and toddlers and absolutely love watching how their mirror neurons work. We learn from a very young age how to respond to others through mimicking their facial expressions and creating an emotional response to it. Your student who entered feeling obviously down, unsure of herself, and full of self doubt was probably very reassured by your welcoming energy and just the thought that you cared about her as a whole person instead of a laundry list of ailments. I think it’s a lesson all teachers can learn from about seeing our students, and allowing them to mirror us, not in asanas, but in our intentions of caring.
I once heard a saying, “the vinyasa begins at the door”, meaning the student’s experience begins as they enter the room. Learning names, asking questions, showing care, and creative a safe space invite student’s to relax and the yoga practice them becomes a partnership. I try to connect with each student individually at some point in the class so they feel “seen”. Thank you for explaining the science behind this!
As a Psychiatric Nurse i see everyday how important those first few moments can be for anyone stepping out of their comfort zone. Kindness, empathy and body language are powerful and lasting impact. Mirror neurons is a powerful phenomenon. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this piece of information about mirror neurons. Now I want to do more research and read more on mirror neurons. 🙂 Reading your post reminded me about my teacher’s words – to teach from the heart, and teach with love.
Helping newcomers feel welcome is such an important part of teaching. I really like the Desikachar quote you included at the end of your post. Creating a caring connection between teacher and student contributes to a safe class environment where people feel as though they can begin to let go of their own judgments and expectations and focus on the practice of healing.
I love this article because of the scientific explanation of a phenomenon that we all feel in our heart of hearts. There are still many ways in which energy manifests in the body that modern science has no explanation for, so I always find it exciting and validating when discoveries like this come along. Thank you for sharing this important reminder to try to maintain and exhibit the energy we would like to see in our students!
As a fairly new yoga teacher but a seasoned NYC school teacher, well, former school teacher, I truly value this article. I know very well the need to be welcoming to all students in the school classroom…even if you are in the middles of a math lesson to the kids you have been teaching all month and the principal shows up at your door with a new kid who is to start at that moment. In this situation I want to commiserate with the class for a moment and groan in understanding of how this is going to disrupt everything, but in order to make sure the new child feels safe and the class puts on an accepting smile, you happily make space for them and partner them with a sweet, quit kid to help ease their transition. Despite my ability to seamlessly do this as a school teacher, as a new yoga teacher, I’ve still been pretty in my own head about what the poses are and could definitely be more receptive to those either coming for the first time or late….we all have our own stuff going on and remembering that my students can feel what I’m feeling…being anxious about what is coming next is definitely not the energy I want them to pick up on. So thanks, this is something for me to be mindful of in the near future.
I love that the mirror neurons work both directions. The teacher can empathize with the student, and the student can model the teacher. What a beautiful exchange; this is definitely a piece that drives connection.
I always strive to create a ‘safe container’ for my students, which includes making everyone feel welcome and appreciated in my classes. It is so interesting to learn about the science (mirror neurons!?!) behind people’s reaction to empathy. I always learn something new when reading this blog. I want to send everyone I know in NYC to your class.
I also appreciate Elizabeth’s comment below mine reminding us all that “to truly see and be seen by other people is an essential human experience we all crave.”
Thank you for sharing T.K.S Desikachar’s quote, “All that a teacher of Yoga can guarantee, to repeat, is: ‘I can care’. It appears that more often than not something beneficial will happen.”. This is a great reminder for teachers of all sorts: to truly see and be seen by other people is an essential human experience we all crave. This blog drove home the importance of creating a healing, welcoming space for students. I’m eager to learn more about mirror neurons!
Creating an environment where each student feels comfortable is essential for safety and progress. As teachers we can be so focussed on the subject matter, we can forget that the individual is what it’s really about. Thanks for emphasising this!
I appreciate your bringing attention to the role of the yoga teacehr even before class starts. This sparked the thought that our continued journey of exploring, embodying and doing our own work translates in our ability to better show up for our students. I’ve attended classes where the teacher blows in late, totally frazaled and apears to be disapointed with the people present or not present in the class. Every student in the room is affected.
Brilliant post! And so powerful. I’m going to need to reread this a few time to let if fully settle in. Thank you for this.
Thanks Ariel a very interesting article, creating a safe space for students is so important and I love the Desikachar quotes too very fitting.
What a great post, I think a must read for all yoga teachers. Making a student feel welcome and accepted is a something that needs to be in the forefront of every teachers mind.
This is the very important topic for yoga teacher! Thank you for reminding Ariel.
I will always remember the power of mirror neurons as an instructor and do my best with loving care for each student.
I would like to welcome new student as warm family to share pain or happiness.
I’m very interesting to take class for Yoga Tune Up pain Relief class!
So excited to study with you, wonderful unique and loving teacher!
Thanks, Ariel, for the important reminder that we serve as a mirror to our students. Simply modeling confidence and ease can give our students so much! Then, of course, when we have the presence and strength to model this for a whole room full of people, they become one collective and very powerful mirror for us and for each other. I guess for many people that’s a huge part of what makes a great yoga class, while also strengthening our own ability to shine.
How interesting and wonderful. Powerful to know that the energy we talk about in yoga is actually physiologically having a real impact on others with the mirror neurons. Definitely a reason to be careful about what we are putting out there!
I have never heard of the term “mirror neurons”. However, I have experienced the power of caring intentions when relating to my clients and students – now I know more about how that happens! I love how you instilled hope into your new student, which is a powerful emotion, just by taking the time to sincerely get to know her and by letting her know that she is in “the”perfect place to start exploring a yoga practice.” Thanks for sharing!
I love this post. I am very much in touch with this side of me. I am very open to feel what others in my surrounding feel but I had no idea that this was originated in mirror neurons that all humans share. This is a great thing to know and now I feel empowered to to mirror positive feelings of love, peace and faith in all my students and everybody around. I feel like the best yoga classes are those in which the teacher is able to create an experience and the connection between student/teacher and between students themselves is a big part of it. I am excited to create an environment where people feel that they are cared for and where they open up for healing. Thank you for the inspiration.
Facinating! This article has seriously perked up my interest in mirror neurons. I know I often experience the feeling of “empathy” when dealing with others, but it is amazing to get a bit more insight into the science of what is facilitating this experiece. My next question is what makes one person more prone to empathize than another?
Thank you Ariel. It is important to remember to take time to look at your students, feel he energy of the class, and address it! The teacher has the power to change the affect of every single body in the class, and the smart teachers are tuned into this to generate a neurophysiological response! Thanks for the gentle reminder to be more aware.
I am so excited to learn about these neurons and will be following up with the article – cells that read minds. As both a nurse and a yoga teacher, it is validating to know that the empathy and care are ‘palpable’ in a scientific sense as well as an emotional sense. I will be sharing this with my colleagues at the hospital. As yoga instructors, we are healers as well.
“All that a teacher of Yoga can guarantee, to repeat, is: ‘I can care’. It appears that more often than not something beneficial will happen.” – I love this! Thank you for sharing. I truly believe that teachers have a great power to transfer their energy of care to students, and likewise with students giving light to teachers as well. Beautiful article Ariel.
I can care. The ultimate sankpa. Thank you for reiterating that from a deep neurological place we all feel our connection. The ability to authentically care for people is quintessentially human and that humanity is the foundation of yoga!
Such an important reminder: 90% of teaching is human relationship.
I love this post!! Come as you are yoga! I love it
Good ‘Ole Discomfort. As for discomfort, I have well accepted that it is a sign that I am alive. Thus, I appreciate it’s perpetual presence in my life. Sometimes not entirely physical, discomfort does show it’s face one way or another. Today in fact, it showed-up in the form a cyclist zooming by my passenger side door while I was making a right-hand turn. Yikes!
Discomfort at that point, was a much better than the alternative… Which would have been guilt, if I have had made that right-hand turn with a little bit more aggression.
On that note, having a positive attitude is an absolute key to relieving discomfort at any degree. And very much so, like the mirror neurons who need an antagonistic dance partner, very much is the same for attitude. A microscopic, yet powerful phenomenon in both cases.
Very well said, and summed up with that final Desikachar quote. I have taken class with many yoga teachers, a great many of them very knowledgeable and experienced, but unfailingly the ones I come back to are the people I feel take the time to do what you describe above. It doesn’t matter to me as a student if a teacher can execute perfect poses or expertly list all the small muscles of a region if I don’t feel like my presence and experience is validated and honored. It is this acknowledgement of our shared humanity that the yoga community can bring off our mats to truly make our society healthier on so many levels.
Thank you for this post. your experience with Fran is just another example of how the mind is able to lead the body into a place of healing when their exists an environment of trust. You are creating what we clinicians (I am an occupational therapist) refer to as a therapeutic relationship. The other belief of OT that coincides with that of yoga is that the limitations that you perceive are able to be moved, or removed entirely, by how you perceive your environment, whether it be physical, social, or psychological.
Thank you for this post! I also work with people who have had to deal with a wide range of obstacles, including medical issues and many types of socio-political marginalization. Many don’t believe that yoga is something that is accessible for them. Our attitudes as teachers is so important – the ability to be welcoming and inclusive is key. Thank you for taking the time to recognize this. Research on mirror neurons has supported the age old knowledge that we are truly social creatures – we develop in a social context. Dan Siegal’s Interpersonal Neurobiology is one of my favorite resources in this area. I hope that we can continue to use compassion and human connection as our most important teaching tools. Thank you for this lovely narrative!
I absolutely love this post. It is amazing how one simple shift can lead the body and mind towards a totally new direction…It is a very good reminder to be aware that every thing we do or word we say, has an impact in those around us. Even when our body language!
a great reminder of the responsibility that we have as yoga teachers to show up, be present and create a safe environment for healing to occur. as a trainer of yoga teachers, i often talk about the importance of showing up early to greet students as they arrive and be approachable so that people feel comfortable telling you what it is that they might be dealing with that day. i love adding the concept of mirror neurons to this equation – sometimes all it takes is a smile or a twinkle in the eye to say “i see you, i care” to set the proper tone before and during a class.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story. I think it is too easy to forget the power of mirror neurons as an instructor. I try to make my classes as light as possible to help my students endure the discomfort of their restricted mobility and flexibility with a smile on their faces =)
Beautiful article! Compassion is hard wired! It’s physics! Blows my mind! Thank you for your comprehensive explanation of mirror neurons!
I think in the medical profession they have something called BEDSIDE MANOR. Wonderful post and I and pleased and proud to have met you this week Airel. “A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge” Thomas Carlyle
I loooooove that quote by Desakachar! I have it triple highlighted in my book also! It is so true! We come to heal together and that pranic power magnifies! It is like the power of prayer! I often think of all the experiments with plants and music effecting their growth, the classical music makes them flower and grow while heavy metal leaves them not looking so fresh….we are all energy! And energy influences other energy. The more positive focus the more power, the more positive focus on healing, the more healing! If only we knew we could heal ourselves by coming together and accepting, loving and caring-what a world it could and CAN be!
I just started taking yoga about 6 weeks ago, and my observation is that the few yoga instructors I’ve met are the most genuine and compassionate individuals I have come in contact with in my health team, including doctors, nurses, chiropractor. I’m really starting to see the mind-body-psyche connection to good health and I owe it all to yoga. You’re right about the mirror effect, I actually feel better in anticipation of my yoga class on my way to the gym! Keep up the good work!
I love this article! Facilitating the healing process “just”by caring and being open & welcoming to everyone that wants to join you in your class is a great lesson for everybody: not only the teacher, but also how we as humans care for other human beings and animals on a daily basis. Just imagine if every single person would consider this lesson and incorporate “caring on a daily basis” it into their own lives.
This article transcends the world of yoga to all sports and their teachers/trainers/coaches. The amount of knowledge and skill a coach possesses means nothing if he or she cannot convey that he or she is not only interested in the person as an athlete, but also in the person as a person. Athletes, believe it or not, are emotional beings and need support and care in the training hall as much as a small child. Thank you for reminding me that my success as a coach rests in my ability to connect and relate to people.
This so important! Thank you for this article. I always teach this to the students in my trainings. Be welcoming and interested in the other person. Every time I teach a class, I’m serving others. Not only do the students feel comfortable and safe but it also make the teaching more authentic and powerful.
this is so beautiful ariel. first of all i want to say that having just met you in the teacher training workshop, the vibe you give off is exactly what you describe, and more! i found your entire aura and presence comforting and completely welcoming. also, we often forget how important being human is to being a teacher of this sort of discipline and sometimes its the easiest way in to working with a client. i try to keep this in mind when im working with people whose complex and numerous injuries seem overwhelming to me; i breathe, smile, listen and connect. its quite magical.
Thank you for the reminder of the importance of the seat we take as teachers. It’s so easy to forget how important it is to simply hold space with integrity and an “I Care” attitude.
Our ease and caring as teachers sets up an environment where the students can heal and care for themselves. What an honor and a great responsibility.
Wonderful article. Thank you.
Sometimes we take the time to welcome a new student and are friendly. But adding the “I care” portion is critical. It’s one thing to be nice,to be friendly and have a warm environment, but it’s just as important to let the student know that we teachers really do care about their well being. If not, the student might have a good class, enjoy the fun of the other students, many even laugh a lot and walk out more relaxed. For some that might be more than enough. For others, though, short interactions of honest-to-goodness compassion may be even more important.
so true! And beautifully articulated … even in a general group class, if someone is new or anxious you can pick up on that right away as a teacher and it’s your obligation (i feel) to put them at ease. it doesn’t have to be verbal – it can be energetic, a softening into yourself that will be felt by them, a gentle adjustment that is reassuring, a smile. we forget how much people look to us to lead, and when we come into class as teachers but are grumpy or carrying our own ‘stuff’, that radiates.
What a beautiful article and reminder as to why I teach Ariel. It is so vital to “see” our students, To feel with intuition and compassion. These traits are what mark the difference between an Instructor and a Teacher.
Beautifully said! Reading through your article it’s impossible not to feel the loving-kindness and compassion you show to every student who is lucky enough to find you! When a student, new or a regular, comes to class and really feels seen, understood and cared for, it creates an environment for healing – mind, body and spirit. It is such a privilege to teach yoga and your post is an excellent reminder of how important those first few moments with a new student are in making them feel welcome, accepted and happy to have chosen your class!
Nice article. I think there is so much to be said for the intuitiveness of people to “sense” a genuine offering of care, and I truly believe if what is given is positive and authentic it can have a great deal of impact on healing. Curious to read the cited NYT article to learn more about the science behind this. And while brilliant intellect is most certainly necessary, I agree “the inner capacity to care about someone else more than yourself” is a key element of any teacher/caregiver.
Love this article! I love that you found a scientific basis for your teaching relationships. If only the more of the western healthcare community would adopt this attitude, I think there would be a lot more healing going on rather than sick people waiting in queue for a pills or surgery.
Regardless of how much a teacher knows, the knowledge they have attained…if they don’t have the right vibe or understand the unspoken language of energy the student will not open up completely. Those without knowledge, a friend, a stranger, can help by giving a person in pain their full attention even for a moment. The combination of a wise and aware teacher is healing both physically and emotionally. So nice to see attention paid to this subtle nuance.
This is a most excellent post! It really doesn’t matter if you are deemed the best yoga instructor, teacher, PT, etc if you neglect to connect in a humane, compassionate fashion with each and every person who is guided to walk through your door. An initial attitude of caring sets the stage for healing even if your techniques are not spot on. Imagine if you are caring AND spot on with technique… MAGIC!!
I always do mantras and meditation before class to bring the best of me as a teacher with my students. And love and compassion are truly natural forces of conciousness that heal and transform. It always begins with the teacher. We create the space for our students. They get to take it or leave it.
Ariel, thank you for a beautiful blog that really speaks to me. I loved the information about mirror neurons and look forward to learning more. When I first began teaching Pilates, about 8 years ago, I would often “rub people the wrong way.” It wasn’t my intention, but the controlling nature of how I understood Pilates and how I viewed myself. I wasn’t judging the women who took my classes, but they felt my self critical nature and thought it was about them. It took me years and a lot of yoga to figure out exactly what they were picking up on, but you have explained it well here. Once I brought in humor and became gentler on myself I saw my students shift as well. Thanks for being a reminder of the journey and the responsiblity of being a teacher.
Inspiring article. Thank you. This story has touched so many people because we have all felt unsure and not welcomed somewhere and some time in our life. It is beautiful to see that having empathy and compassion can go a long way in the healing process. I think it is important to remember as teachers of yoga that even when that compassion seems to be rejected or not heard by a student (or anyone in our life) it will eventually resonate. In other words, we cannot always expect a positive response to our caring and empathy, but that should not put us off message or off task.
Loved this post. In every person there is a part of us. Yoga is an inclusive practice, and as a teacher I think that empathy is the key for any student, even the most introverted, to trust and let the teacher be that guide to the healing process. I´ll repeat Desikchakar´s quote as a mantra through my process on becoming a teacher, and all the path that will follow!.
This is another example of how yoga provides the stage for better living, a framework for one to learn and cultivate patterns of behaviour, thoughts and actions which lead to a better life for them and those around. Of course yoga is not the only way to learn these things, but it’s one of the most complete in my opinion. Compassion, or better yet, empathy is a skill without which interpersonal success would be a long shot. The ability to see yourself in another, or at least have an understanding of where they’re coming from and what they’re experiencing creates a sense of familiarity between the two of you and defenses come down and from there true relationships can grow. Some people naturally have more of it than others, but it can be learned and cultivated by simply thinking differently. One can begin with sympathy, which will open up the desire to understand, which can lead to empathy. And for a yoga teacher who lacks these qualities, they may still have a following of students, but their joy as a teacher will be limited; needless to say, so will their joy as a person.
Over the years I’ve been both an instructor and a participant in group fitness classes, yoga at the gym and yoga in a studio and the way an instructor receives a participant can set the tone for not just the class, but that participant’s entire day…or longer… This is especially true with people like Fran, but also with anyone who is simply new. When we’re self-conscious, out posture, breath patters, physiology and internal dialogue can change. That feeling of being welcome can make all the difference. Thank you for this post, it is a wonderful reminder of the power of caring.
Based on my own experience, most people who turn to yoga are already on a ‘sensitive’ side. They are more in tune with their spiritually and, most likely, do or want to take good care of their physical health. Thus they are perceptive enough to pick up on the teacher’s feelings and attitudes towards the practice he or she leads. Caring and creating a nurturing energy in the class is such an important part of being a yoga teacher/therapist – it benefits and nurtures not just the students but the teacher as well.
That’s what I think Yoga Therapy has to offer: A combination of rigorous training with deep familiarity of anatomy and physiology, combined with the caring attitude you are demonstrating. Your students will be glad about your knowledge, but they’ll come back because you care!
I love this quote: “It is not the most brilliant intellect that makes such a teacher. It is the inner capacity to care about someone else more than yourself.” By simply energetically conveying to each new student or person that you meet, that you genuinely care, the healing begins.
It amazes me the people that come to teach yoga and care for those who are not in perfect health or have ailments. Through my massage therapy training and teaching yoga, it has been imperative that I tune in to who I am working with. Although I have had challenges of overly embodying their pain and discomfort, I have found ways to ground myself and allow only what is necessary for me to experience to understand the state and well being of the individual. A true compassionate attitude does wonders for the world and it is nice to know that with mirror neurons, their bodies respond to the care and being to heal themselves. It is that sigh the moment my client lie on my massage table. 🙂
Thank your for your article. This is so true whether in a class of 5 or 100 the group energy is amazing to watch and so empowering. It’s great to have new people and watch them return and say how then yoga is helping them. What a great rewarding job.
This was really good information for me to read. I came to yoga with an illness, and it is the community I found at my local yoga studio that really helped me through this time in my life. It was good to be reminded of this as now I’m on the otherside of the specturm as a teacher. I will make a concious effort to use my student’s mirror neurons, offering acceptance and sympathy. After reading this article, I recognize that my mirror neurons often kick in when I think a class went badly, a student will come up to me and say “great class!” and my mood is instantly elevated.
I love this! I think those opening moments when greeting students, especially new ones, are critical to setting the tone for their experience not only with that one class but with their feelings about yoga in general. Remembering my first yoga class and the fear that i had (that i wouldn’t fit in, i wouldn’t be able to do the poses, etc.) reminds me of what it’s like for a newcomer. Being welcoming and offering that sense of belonging is so important. Thank you!
As a repeat of the comment I tried to leave yesterday from my phone ( I now have temp. access to a computer), I said that remembering about the mirror neurons and how fquickly a student can pick up on the teacher’s energy and vica versa, this makes me more conscious of my attitude before entering the classroom. When I am distracted by some personal troubles, my mind is scattered and I am not present with the student. My teaching style that day can be sloppy and I know students can pick this up. I also realize that it goes both ways,I can get sucked into a sad story from a student and it can color my own energy that can reflect on to others. Gotta set my center before coming into class and BE the attitude I want to teach.
I truly believe in the power of compassion. By showing others compassion, we show them respect and validate them as human beings. This, in turn, ramps up their own self-compassion, acceptance and love–the first step towards healing.
A lot of times it is our spirit our mentality that is hurting more than our physical ailments, alll we need is a little love and encouragement and half of our pains are gone! The mind is an amazing thing.
Love it! Addressing the needs, interests and possibly the insecurities is such an important component of teaching and something that can be just as therapeutic as what you end up teaching.
I loved this article! The ability to have empathy with others are experiencing is the first step of helping others feel safe and giving them the space to get in touch with their bodies and minds and heal from past experiences.
Thank you for your article. As yoga teachers, focusing on compassion and a service to others allows us to create a safe place for students to explore their own self-healing. It is quite amazing how the simplest of actions, when they are authentic, will allow for such profound transformations. I have read that according to Buddhism, “compassion is the only source of energy that is useful and safe.” I couldn’t agree more.
This is so true. I am very adventurous in the poses I try and teach. When teaching, poses considered to be way out there, it is a journey for me, and make everyone in the class feel they are on the journey too. This immediately makes even the simplest pose a journey and eases up people ( well most people ) and lets them relax into their practice, making it their own.
How amazing! From the opposite perspective, we students must also remember that our energy can impact the other students in the class and even the instructor, so we better keep positive 🙂
I love that caring actually carries with it a neurological and physiological response! So much of our ability to heal depends on our ability to trust the person leading us – whether it be a therapy class or vinyasa class. Thanks for the great article!
As an older student with a number of ‘aches and pains’ , I can appreciate the challenge and courage it takes to enter a room full of young, physically fit yoga students. I am grateful for the teachers that accept me as I am and encourage me to still grow in my practice. I think that is the real gift of a good teacher – to accept students where they are and to help them grow from that place.
Fascinating. A warm welcome with a compassionnate understanding those are key rules for yoga teachers. It also tells that we mostly influence people because of who we are as human being. A beautiful story that positively changed someone’s reality in such simplicity.
I’m fascinated by the concept of the mirror neuron, as a student of neuropsychology it is an area I get to explore. When our students see our faces they internalize our expressions. The way we merely greet people can be profoundly therapeutic.
Ariel, I want to make it to one of your yoga therapy classes! 🙂
This article was a great reminder of the importance of connecting with your students and creating an environment where they feel comfortable and safe. That initial meeting/ introduction can be especially crucial with students new to yoga, and this article definitely brought that idea back to the forefront of my mind. Thanks for writing Ariel – beautiful article!
Thank you for sharing and right on. Its rare in day to day life, some one stops looks you in the eyes, smiles and says hi with love or with an “I care” thought, not wanting anything in return. So rare that when it happens it can make people break down and cry. What an important thought and reminder, to take as both a yoga teacher, student and human. Thank you!
I’m just now starting to dive deeper into mirror neurons – and here’s a great place to begin to build understanding, if anyone else likes to geek out on these things 🙂
http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html
This is a great post. Words to live by, especially as a new yoga teacher just getting started. Thank you!
Thanks for tying what I’ve always felt intuitively to science, Ariel. So cool, and a good reminder that our intention or sankalpa happens on both the macro and micro levels.
Beautiful. Love truly heals.
It is such a simple concept to show you care and accept this person as they are in order to facilitate a trusting therapeutic relationship. Showing that you care and accept someone ailments and all is helping to bring the essence of yoga and yoga therapy to create a norm for our society that is outside the common myth that yoga is only for flexible, strong, thin people. If we have more teachers like you that help someone feel safe and comfortable then we will see more and more people get into yoga even if they are not flexible. Perhaps in the long run this will aide in getting more research behind yoga therapy to then get the insurance companies to recognize the necessity of yoga in the medical field. Neurologically this woman feeling more calm and accepted will have a more positive experience and hopefully keep yoga in her life to help decrease and eliminate some of her chronic health conditions. Thanks!
this is a wonderful article! genuine compassion and empathy towards others comes easier for some but i think it still can be learned for others. there is such a difference in an instructor, p.t, provider etc who “feels” someones pain and really means it vs one who says it just because it’s the right thing to say.
Your post on the interrelationship of how a teacher greets a new student and how that ties into mirror neurons and empathy was one I can empathize with. I was teaching a class for seniors and in the middle of warm ups the classroom door opened. I was an elderly woman in a big purple hat with thick glasses and a walker, and a slight scowl on her face. I told her we were having a yoga class and asked her if I could help her. “I just want to watch, I am thinking of taking this class but I want to see if I can do it” she said. I asked the class for permission and they were happy to have her stay, her scowl left. The students had a wide variety of health issues and needs and she was able to witness that she was not alone. After class she talked with both myself and the class members, she told me she was in her late 70s she had had a stroke with one sided weakness and balance issues but she thought the class could work for her. Class members shared what their limitations were and how yoga was helping them. She came back the next week, props in hand, and participated fully, including seated meditation, floor poses, and standing poses at the wall.
When she showed up in the middle of class, she was welcomed as if she was already a class member, her face relaxed. I believe the group energy enveloped her and she found a safe place to aid in her healing.