I just went through a 25-hour training course to assist during yoga classes. An assistant is someone who moves through the room during class and connects with the students by helping them into a pose, helping them go deeper into a pose, remind them to breathe deeply, give a brief massage, offer moral support, or whatever makes the experience better for the students. After the course, we’re supposed to practice on at least five of our peers and get feedback on where we need to improve.
I practiced on two of my peers, but the only feedback I got was “that was really good!” Wanting some hardcore criticism, I asked to practice on the fussier of the course instructors who is the studio owner. She is also the only one to fail anybody from the course. I also picked a more difficult class during which to assist her; one with a faster pace, handstands, deep twists, difficult position changes. My job was to stick to her and assist her through every pose. This was going to be tough!
At the end of the class, I was sweating as much as she was; it was like dancing with a disabled person for 75 minutes, having to help them through each step of the dance, not even knowing what the steps were until they were called out. Then I sat down and awaited my feedback.
My teacher sat down with her forehead on her knee in thought for a minute, and then she started to cry. I got confused and asked her what was wrong. She finally looked up and said through her tears, “I am just so proud of you. I have absolutely nothing to say. You don’t need to test later; I’m calling this your test, and you passed. Would you please assist at my studio?” I was blown away. I then probed her for something I could improve (I was still looking for that hardcore feedback she had been giving everybody else).
Anyway, I’ll be assisting in two of her classes each week, and I get unlimited free yoga at her studio! Woohoo!