Soliciting Feedback: Space & Logistics Checklist
An invaluable part of yoga teacher training is the opportunity to get feedback on your teaching from fellow students and teachers.
New and established teachers alike may wish to continue to solicit feedback in order to continually refine teaching to address particular student populations. In fact, we highly recommend it!
- Please see Art of Teaching: Practice & Knowledge for more information. Don’t miss the important concept of Naive vs. Deliberate Practice.
- For additional information and motivation for soliciting feedback from mentors and other yoga professionals, see Improve Your Teaching Skills by Asking for Constructive Criticism by Sara Avant Stover.
Following are considerations and tools for obtaining feedback.
Informal Inquiry
You can ask students before or after class about their experience in your classes.
- This may have the added benefit of building your connections with students and giving them an opportunity to speak and be heard.
- The disadvantage of this method is, of course, that some students will find it difficult or impossible to share information that is constructive for fear of hurting your feelings or creating discomfort.
Check In
In smaller classes and classes that are for students with conditions such as pregnancy, grief or disease, it’s fairly common to start class with a check-in.
- As part of this process, you could ask students what is working for them and what more they would like to see.
- Or you might specifically ask for thoughts on a particular aspect of class.
Feedback Forms
Distributing feedback forms after class can be a wonderfully effective way to obtain more complete information. Reassuring students that the feedback can be anonymous is important. And you can get greater participation by occasionally offering a reward such as a free class card or other gift.
See the link below (in Online Resources) for a sample feedback form.
Of course, you may feel vulnerable and anxious in opening yourself up to potential criticism. This is an excellent fear to work with in your practice and with a trusted mentor! ; ) As a reminder, students already have thoughts in their heads. You’re asking to be made privy to their thoughts empowers you to learn and respond. And of course, many students are extremely kind and grateful for your teaching and they will be so excited to tell you how wonderful you are!