Q: Why isn’t this a normal training?

A: You are not going to study and read a ton of books.  There will be one required reading and several recommended readings.  The emphasis of training will be action oriented. We will practice putting concepts to action, quickly and often. Activities like cold showers, tough conversations, video recordings of self, will be used as tools to conquer your nerves and fears of what others think.  Public speaking is the #1 fear of humans.  Why is this? When we don’t know what others are gonna be thinking of us and have no immediate feedback or reassurance it can be scary. The better you become at overcoming these nerves the more control and power you gain over you life.  Stress doesn’t depress you instead it elevates you.      

Q:  Yea, but if I know the information I will be confident speaking or teaching it to others?

A: Yes, partially true. And you will be giving the information in training. But teaching our style of power yoga is not like other forms fitness that may just bark orders. (It’s also not just talking in a high pitch soft voice.)  There’s a subtle feedback loop in teaching our power yoga. There is a subtle art of listening and moving them through that skill of listening.  A specific example that we mean by this is active listening for students breathe.  Then moving them with your raw unfiltered expression based off that connection you make. Teaching our style is like playing in a band or coaching a sports team.  As teachers/leaders we are trying to get the whole to work as one.  This listening opens our heart where we access a new place to speak from.  When we teach from the heart more people will be inspired and more connections made, just like a great band or inspiring basketball coach.  Teaching from the heart, requires vulnerability since you will be risking “messing up”.  But the beauty is few care if you say the wrong word when you’re showing them your heart. They will feel something powerful and fresh that words can’t clearly convey.  Your way of being will make others feel a certain way.  That’s the spirit of teaching.  

Q: Okay so to be a good teacher I must be a good listener?

A:  That skill must be practiced over and over when you teach.  You may forget to be in the act of listening when you have your words down, but you must always remember to come back to what you don’t know keeping your eyes and ears wide open for a new discovery.  Otherwise you will just become a robot teaching to other robots, you become scripted and dull.  Lifeless and uninspiring.  The growth and confidence within each of us derives from our insatiable curiosity that is more interested in learning and trying than the fear of rejection.   

Q:  What other skills will I have a chance to develop?

A: Your voice.  A big part of communication is how you use your voice. We will train in various exercises that will work the range of your voice.  We will work on grounding your voice to create a more presencing effect for your students.  You will also exercise the highest range of voice and lowest range of voice.  A healthy body is when that is strong yet soft and pliable with great range of motion.  The same is true with your voice.   

Q: Um what about the yoga part?  

A:  We will study and practice 53 poses within Baron Baptiste’s Journey into Power Sequencing.  We will learn this sequence and build an understanding around its purpose. In short we will learn the direction of our practice, we will learn the direction (or alignment) within the poses, and we will learn tools for accessing a stronger presence throughout the poses and the practice.  The main difference between a teacher and a student, is the teacher is highly responsible for making decisions.  And if you’re making decisions you must A.) be confident in the direction and B.) be adaptable on your way there.  All of these tools will translate to your life via a career, relationship, and overall well being.