Why are yoga teachers so annoying???!!

[Anonymous]

So weird to read all of this meditation and spirituality stuff about the 1970's era Swedish stretching routines that are modern yoga.

Here's a long treatment of what's meant by the word "yoga" in traditional Indian religion. Key point: " there is little evidence of postures ever having played a significant part in Indian yoga traditions."

https://jfdeters.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/the-myth-of-yoga/

[Anonymous]

My yoga class is the best! Maybe 5 minutes of that mediation stuff. The rest is poses that really give a great workout.

[Anonymous]

If your natural mode of existence resembles your use of question marks and exclamation points OP please stay out of my yoga classes. You will most definitely harsh my calm.

[Anonymous]

Yoga teacher (and certified personal trainer) here. I’ve been teaching and training for 34 years.

Yoga is more than just the physical practice (the asana). A good yoga teacher works to theme the class to align with the physical movements. For example, you may not hear about the Yamas and Niyamas in every class. But if you’ve been practicing for several months, you should be familiar with the 8 limb path. If you are not, then your practice isn’t yoga.

The “woo woo stuff” - Every teacher is different. Some might use chakras to theme classes. If I’m working on the root chakra, I’ll cue a lot of grounding poses, for example. Or maybe it’s a full moon and I decide to include moon salutations instead of sun.

Difficulty - I teach a hot (106 degrees) power yoga class that will kick your a$$ every class. But, I still theme the class. There will always be a spiritual component because it’s yoga, not CrossFit. I also teach a gentle restorative class. You won’t find that class physically challenging, but it will challenge you to soften and find stillness. Perhaps you need to read the class descriptions so you know what to expect.

Teachers doing acrobatics - I actually agree with you. I rarely demo. I use good cuing to guide students into a pose. The spotlight should not be on the teacher.

Hands on adjustments- This is highly personal. Some students really want to be touched. They hated when COVID prevented us from assisting. Some people do not want to be touched. Just let the teacher know. It really is that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know yoga was a a religion. To the uninitiated, it seems like exercise. Good to know.

A religion? No, it’s not a religion.

As an Indian and Hindu, I beg to disagree. Yoga is a part of the Hindu Puranas and the greatest yogi of them all is Lord Shiva. So it's a not a religion, but it is one of the fundamental Hindu practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yoga teacher (and certified personal trainer) here. I’ve been teaching and training for 34 years.

Yoga is more than just the physical practice (the asana). A good yoga teacher works to theme the class to align with the physical movements. For example, you may not hear about the Yamas and Niyamas in every class. But if you’ve been practicing for several months, you should be familiar with the 8 limb path. If you are not, then your practice isn’t yoga.

The “woo woo stuff” - Every teacher is different. Some might use chakras to theme classes. If I’m working on the root chakra, I’ll cue a lot of grounding poses, for example. Or maybe it’s a full moon and I decide to include moon salutations instead of sun.

Difficulty - I teach a hot (106 degrees) power yoga class that will kick your a$$ every class. But, I still theme the class. There will always be a spiritual component because it’s yoga, not CrossFit. I also teach a gentle restorative class. You won’t find that class physically challenging, but it will challenge you to soften and find stillness. Perhaps you need to read the class descriptions so you know what to expect.

Teachers doing acrobatics - I actually agree with you. I rarely demo. I use good cuing to guide students into a pose. The spotlight should not be on the teacher.

Hands on adjustments- This is highly personal. Some students really want to be touched. They hated when COVID prevented us from assisting. Some people do not want to be touched. Just let the teacher know. It really is that simple.

There is no spiritual dimension to 106 degree power yoga. Zip. Zero. None. The idea that someone who teaches this style of athletic exertion thinks they are qualified to instruct people on a moral or spiritual path is…mind-boggling.

[Anonymous]

OP, you don’t have to like yoga and it’s okay that you don’t. However it’s flat out weird that you’re on a little crusade to make yoga into something it’s not.

Why not just go to a Pilates class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to watch you do all kinds of weird handstands only a gymnast can do. I don’t want to hear about chakras and why inversions are good or bad at this time of the month. I especially don’t want to be “adjusted “ ie touched and repositioned by the teacher- get your hands off me please for crying out loud! I don’t want to hear your narrative commentary about woo-woo poems or pseudo religious pondering, or anything else like that! I just want a good hard Vinyasa flow session with no chitchat. Why do all of the teachers use the spotlight to just blabber on and on?? I’m there to exercise! I love yoga because it makes me stronger, improves balance and flexibility, and nothing melts the fat like a hard yoga practice either. So why does yoga come with all of this nonsense?? And if you even so much as mention for the billionth time your next retreat in Greece, I am outta there!!

Anyone recommend a good hard athletic class with a serious instructor? Or a studio of this type?

If you are a yoga teacher please explain this silly showboating...? We lose at least 15 mins out of a one hour class with your “third eye breath in/breath out” bs.

*I realize this is not really a REAL problem but anyway... namaste.

You are an angry individual and you don’t jive with yoga at all! Move on to a gym.

[Anonymous]

I agreeeee totally !!.
I hate when they talk too much and make it a about their voice , or when they shout !! I never went to classes for ten plus years and was shocked when I signed up for three months of yoga to find most of the teachers raising their voice for the whole class ,
I don't like being pulled up and corrected in front of everyone,
Was also told not to drink water , when I needed it (bikram) and not to leave the room to use the loo ( I'm a woman , who watched a man leave 5 mins before me and nothing was said to him )
Most of the yoga teachers in the place I went to did not seem chill, quite the opposite, 3/5 were highly strung . . .
Overall , I'd agree with this post, as someone who is not overly angry like others are saying about the initial postee !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know yoga was a a religion. To the uninitiated, it seems like exercise. Good to know.

A religion? No, it’s not a religion.

It's a religious practice, yes.

[Anonymous]

Ignore all the stupid posters OP, you are 100% right about yoga.

Barre or Pilates is the right choice. Same idea of balanced, full body practice without the thoughtful nose piercings and sandalwood.

But any kind of studio, barre or yoga, will have a vibe. You just have to find one that fits yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Pilates would be a better choice.

You might not have the right mindset for yoga, if even the yoga teachers are annoying to you.

I tried getting my DH to do yoga with me and he couldn’t stop making jokes about every single statement made by the instructor. I love yoga, but it is ok not to be into it (I stopped inviting my husband )

[Anonymous]

I stopped going to yoga when the instructor said, "There are people in India who don't even know what Kundalini Yoga IS!!!"

I went back to yoga later and I really liked the instructor, but I stopped going when one of the other students came in late, and said, "You're just going to have to move. I need a LOT of space!"

I was already as close to the wall as I could get.

I guess I just don't like people very much.

[Anonymous]

I am a yoga addict, but I am very, VERY picky about where I will go - the studio and the teacher has to have the right vibe. (And I fully realize the vibe that I am into is NOT for everyone. Cool. You do you.)

[Anonymous]

I'm So Good at Yoga (music video)