Teach What You Know
This point, “Teach What You Know” is about your personal experience and the meaning the topic holds for you.
- Regarding such topics as yoga philosophy and other wisdom teachings, it’s simply out of line to teach concepts that you haven’t fully ingested and lived. Not only is it inappropriate to “teach” such topics without personal experience, attempting to do so may lead to sounding like a “talking head,” spouting “blather.”
- Rather, sharing your personal realizations will convey the teachings authentically and will make the teaching real for students.
- Choosing topics that are meaningful to you is likely to add a form of transmission that is not possible when simply conveying information. And your authenticity will also be helpful in developing the teacher-student relationships.
- We are not suggesting that you avoid teaching something that you’re currently working with in your life. All seekers find themselves going deeper with teachings and continuing to learn how much they don’t know. This lifelong seeking is a valuable place from which to teach; not having all the answers should not prevent you from sharing with students.
In summary, we are suggesting that newer teachers be cautious and perhaps err on the side of taking more time before teaching new concepts, and that more experienced teachers consider daring to share more!
New Age Blather
There’s talk in yoga classes about spirit but most of it is not genuine. It’s just somebody reading something. That’s a start but it easily turns into a sort of New Age blather. But when the teacher can get confident enough to teach from her own… truths, then whatever they have to say is so much more profound. – Ana Forrest