Te acher zone
Teacher’s Tales:
W
hy don’t I see more teachers who are older than
me in studios? Or more teachers who look like
me? Or... I could go on. Are we not allowed to
be there? In a number of particular places that
is certainly the impression, intentional or not.
Nothing is said explicitly, but it is in the marketing imagery, it is in
the standoffish response one may receive if they dare to step into
certain spaces, it is in claiming that they welcome everyone yet not
actually doing so. My experience of being advised in a class to sit
out a pose because I was ‘a bit big’ by a teacher at a studio that
claimed to welcome everyone is but one example, and I have heard
numerous others from fellow yoga practitioners. Is it any wonder
that different groups are increasingly creating their own yoga spaces
where they know they will be welcomed and safe?
I know the teachers are out there, but more often than not, they
are barely visible (if at all) teaching in certain studio settings. For
instance, from my experience, of both attending and teaching
classes I’ve had many instances of being the only person of colourWould you attend classes taught by a ‘fat’ yoga teacher? Would you hire a ‘fat’ yoga
teacher? Paula Hines explores one of yoga’s great taboos
and the largest person in the room. Given that this is in London,
this is surprising to me. I know it needn’t be that way as when I look
around some of my regular classes I see a wide range of ages,
abilities, ethnicities and a mix of men and women.
If it is not a lack of teachers then is it a lack of will to hire outside
the box? Or that teachers do not feel comfortable in certain
spaces? Is it that from a business standpoint or because of who the
desired clientele might be, there are certain places that will either
consciously hire to type or unconsciously hire in their own image? Or
maybe there are other factors.
For the places claiming that they want to be more inclusive, if this
is something they truly wish to achieve, well, this can be approached
in several ways, but a significant piece is looking at who is hired to
teach. Are you unconsciously hiring in your own image, or the image
of what you think a yoga teacher ‘should’ be?Paula Hines is a London-based yoga teacher and writer
(ucanyoga.co.uk)Who is allowed to teach yoga?