Taylor-Leigh
The other day I was listening to Yoga is Dead, as stated on the website, “a revolutionary podcast that explores power, privilege, fair pay, harassment, race, cultural appropriation and capitalism in the yoga and wellness worlds.” It is hosted by “Indian-Americans Tejal + Jesal as they expose all the monsters lurking under the yoga mat.”
It was the Veganism Killed Yoga episode, where the conversation was centered around the overall fitness and diet culture that yoga is lumped into in the western world. As a vegan myself, I found it very informative to learn about so many other ways of eating and ideologies around food within different sects of Hinduism and Indian culture at large. Oh, and if you find yourself getting offended about veganism killing yoga, chances are you should check out episode one: White Women Killed Yoga. 😉
Anyway, I was agreeing with everything being said until dance was mentioned as an aesthetic, body-based activity, so when dancers teach yoga, the alignment being cued is purely aesthetic and thus may be harmful to students. Another point raised was that teachers with dance backgrounds may teach classes that are too “dancey” and take away from what yoga is really about.
Initially, and to no surprise, I was triggered. As a dancer who pursued higher academic dance education at the university level, I have extensive body alignment training where the focus was always on the longevity of a mover’s “career” and maintaining personal integrity and functionality of the body; not at all aesthetically based. However, dance is an aesthetic art form in the performative space, and because I was triggered, I knew I had to check myself as to why, especially as a privileged white westerner practicing an eastern spiritual tradition.
After reflecting, here’s what I have to question myself on, and really anyone coming from a dance or aesthetic sport/ art into the yoga teaching space.
- Am I bringing fatphobia, as historically seen in the western dance world, into my yoga classes?
What language am I using when cueing the asana practice? Am I accommodating larger bodies for postures? When giving alternatives, am I leaving it up to the students’ preference, or am I shaming them/ assuming their ability based on their size? (I hope it’s the former). Do I talk about yoga as a form of exercise or a means to lose weight? When students bring up yoga as exercise or calorie burning, do I educate them on the true roots of yoga?
2. Am I cueing in my yoga class the same way I cue in a dance class?
This is not necessarily a bad thing, but an opportunity to reflect. Dance instructors can be very different in their verbal language. I find that my dance teaching can sometimes be very open-ended, but I notice that the most effective yoga teachers are the ones that are very specific in their verbal cues- not to the point that it takes away from the class, but so that the students know exactly what to do if they are say, upside down. Not to mention, when students have to stop what they are doing to look at the teacher demoing a posture, it can cause improper alignment and a break in their mindful flow.
Also! Remember that not all students will have movement experience, and it is important to provide a safe space to guide them. Some old school dance teachers have an authoritative approach with lots of yelling and insensitivity to the harm they cause their students. Hopefully we’re on the same page about that not being a compassionate approach to teaching yoga! I personally feel that teaching yoga is a great way to improve dance teaching.
3. Is my alignment aesthetically, or functionally focused?
I mentioned in the introduction that it can be a misconception that the alignment of dancers is purely aesthetic. However, even if our education has proved otherwise, it is still important to check ourselves.
In yoga, we need safe cues that have equal parts strength and flexibility, with a solid foundation of control.
I don’t care if you can bring your nose to your head while standing. In Ashtanga, for example, the leg stays at 90 degrees, or parallel to the floor.
Take more classes and learn from other instructors! What is effective in their language? What would you do differently?
Have reasons for correcting, including, or setting up a posture, besides it looking cool. For example, dancer pose is not just about contortion and back-bending- it includes balancing on one leg, kicking the raised foot into the hand, keeping the hips square to the front, etc.
4. Not everyone wants a “dancey” class
I love a flowy, dance-like yoga class, but not everyone likes it, or has the experience. In fact, if the pace of class is too fast, it can take your students out of the moving meditation aspect of yoga, and may turn into an exercise class. Although, yes, Vinyasa = linking breath to movement, thanks to Krishnamacharya who emphasized the movements in between postures, but it’s important to keep yoga asana practice as a union between mind, body, & soul, rather than used as a performance.
5. Music!
Music can either enhance the practice of your students, or distract them. Be mindful of songs with lyrics, as well as the pace. Does your playlist match the rise and fall of your class? I’m not proud to say, but one time I walked out of a yoga class being taught at my local gym because the instructor was playing loud rock music that was not only distracting to me, but to the instructor as well, as she was talking about the songs themselves…in the middle of class!
I recently learned about some helpful South Asian/ Desi classical and fusion music recommendations from Indian-American yoga activist & educator, Susanna Barkataki. Some artists include Gopika Poornima, Priya Deepika Mohan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Kiran Ahluwalia.
6. Asana is just ONE limb of yoga
Remember that there are seven others besides physical practice!
In conclusion…
Please please please do not get discouraged when learning about and checking yourself on these things. They are only to help those of us who are both dancers & yoga practitioners/ teachers, to be more equitable and effective in the yoga space. Sharing of cultures is inevitable in this century, and it’s no doubt that yoga has brought many benefits to the western world. But it is still our responsibility to honor yoga’s roots.
I’m Taylor-Leigh, a mover and writer about intentional living & other things. I have a BFA in Dance & Choreography, a minor in Medical Humanities, and am a 200 hour yoga teacher.