7 Top Tips! Whether you are a yoga teacher or student, giving instructions or following English instructions can be a bit embarrassing in a class full of fellow yogis and yoginis. If it gives you any consolation, I have been doing yoga in Greek and it hasn't been easy-going. I still get confused between my left leg and my right arm, and I am always a few seconds behind the rest of the class. But I have accepted my lot and I am not going to let my utter shame and embarrassment prevent me from practicing. If you are looking for quality ESL lessons for your yoga class, either as an instructor or a teacher, take a look at some tips for going with the flow.
1. Ask For Clarification.
Whenever our yoga class finishes, I always revise a word or two with my yoga teacher or a fellow student and they are happy to help as it is an exchange which also improves their English. Statistics show that the average person needs to come into contact with a new word about 10 times over the course of a year. Just recently, I learned that thighs are called 'μηρούς' in Greek.
2. Start With The Body Parts
All you really need are verbs and nouns, so start by learning the names of different body parts. Luckily, you get to notice and feel those body parts as you practice, so it is activity based learning at its best.
3. Focus On Yoga Verbs
Quite often, the same verbs are used in a yoga class. Do you recognise these verbs?
4. Listen To English Meditation Classes
These days there are loads of free meditation apps, my favourite being Insight Timer. A Yoga nindra or body scan meditation, for example, can be a relaxing way to pick up new vocabulary and phrases. I have been doing Spanish meditations to improve my Spanish, and to be honest, it sounds so exotic and beautiful to my ears when a soothing voice says: 'Respirar'.
5. Remember The Sequence
If all else fails, you can always try to predict the next pose. Most instructors have their favourite sequences and after a few lessons you will get the hang of it. Whether you are an instructor or a student, it might be a good idea to find a script online and study it.
6. What About Sanskrit?
Sanskrit? Your brain is probably already spinning. Should you add Sanskrit into the mix? From where I'm standing you have 3 options:
If you know some of the names of yoga poses in Sanskrit, it might give you a framework for giving or following directions, so by all means, go ahead.
If you don't know any of these weird sounding names but you've noticed that they often end in 'asana' and you are keen on learning new languages, go for it.
If you start sweating when someone says: 'Dandayamana ardha chakrasana', it's better to just stick to English for now.
7. The True Essence
And finally, always remember that the practice of yoga is a very personal journey. At the end of the day, the whole purpose of rolling out your mat is so that you can finally become still and spend some time with a higher version of yourself. The peaceful surroundings of a yoga class are optimal for language learning. When you are in a class, you are there to learn, why not take the opportunity to practice English and yoga together? Over time, you will blossom.
Check out my resource for effective use of language for yoga and meditation classes.
Such an interesting topic, for my English classes!
As a yoga teacher, I found this helpful while presenting my classes in English.