Yesterday I talked about discipline and I would like to say again that I find discipline important, especially for people who are in the profession of teaching, be it yoga or in a school. You should be an ideal. If you as a yoga teacher are drinking, smoking, eating meat and are just nor in discipline yourself, then what will you teach others?
Maybe this is not very important for those who see yoga only as a physical exercise. But those who really see the essence of yoga and what it is about should accept yoga in a complete way and give a shape to their life and personality with yogic discipline. I strongly believe that when you teach something, you yourself should also follow that. Your teaching will not have power if you do not live it with your honesty. It would be funny if a smoker gave a lecture about the harm of smoking.
Once Ramona told me that in their school the teachers previously had a room for smoking. But teacher means ideal. How can you expect from your students to live in another way than you are showing them? I wrote about children who grow up in this society and then face problems when they are in their teenage time. But you need to see what influence they are getting from the outside, in their home, in school and in the society. They are not able to understand how deeply things can harm them. For them a cigarette can be momentary fun, just enjoyment and being adult for a few minutes.
We cannot blame the children for this, we all have to take responsibility for them. The older generation should give an example with their lifestyle. What you see in your children is a reflection of the society. They want to go the same way and even do one step more. If you want to make a change in society, take your responsibility and live an example for the younger generation.
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Why I think you don’t need the Sanskrit Terms for Yoga Poses – 30 Sep 15
Is it really necessary to correct your Yoga Students? – 29 Sep 15
Confusion in the Yoga Market – Choosing a Class is like buying Milk: Which one? – 17 Nov 14
A New Project: New Yoga Dresses and Yoga Mats for the Children! – 19 Aug 13
Yoga Teachers and Lovers: Does Yoga make you sexually abusive, a Nymphomaniac or a Philanderer? – 28 Feb 12
Why it is not good to hold Yoga Poses for long time – 21 Mar 11
Yoga means uniting yourself – but with what? – 17 Mar 11
Does Yoga Need a Colour or is that only Marketing? – 7 Nov 10
This is an important principle for teachers to be examples, especially with something like yoga or health-related things. Would you want a dietician who ate at Mcdonald’s all the time?
The most powerful way is truly to lead by example. How can you teach any discipline without being disciplined?
Even if you don’t teach, it is so important to have discipline. You should have discipline to be a student as well. I saw a phrase once that said “The weak body does what it wants- the strong body does what you tell it to.” Too true!
I can’t stand hypocrites!
As a teacher I am always aware of my actions and my words- how they meet each other. Teaching has actually taught me more than being a student did. Being a student was just the first step.