Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland character the March Hare inspired the ubiquitously quotable line 'Say what you mean and mean what your say'. Of course, how often do we say what we mean? We usually discover if we did or didn't by the outcome, right? Did you get the action or reaction that you wanted?
Language is a powerful tool; however, it can become a heavy and superfluous appendage to inter-relational effort when used carelessly. Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training is not like any other kind of education. I recommend it for reasons that go far beyond a desire to teach yoga. Learning discrimination and refinement in our speech is an invaluable skill, and it's an enormous part of Iyengar Teacher Training. BKS Iyengar set up a system of teaching the mind and body through the science of yoga that is designed to work on us synchronistically from the outside inward.
"Yoga releases the creative potential of Life. It does this by establishing a structure for self realization [...]. The Light that yoga sheds on Life is something special. It is transformative. It does not just change the way we see things; it transforms the person who sees. It brings knowledge and elevates it to wisdom." --BKS Iyengar, Light on Life
Kathleen Pringle has helped transform innumerable Iyengar students into more self-realized individuals and certified teachers. The Valentine's Weekend Teacher Training paired introductory level teachers with junior level teachers. What is so unusual about this particular pairing is an innate sense of respect for each other and openness to learning. Iyengar Teacher Certification involves a lot of training, even Introductory Level teachers usually have a solid number of them under their belt, and they still may not be Certified Iyengar teachers. Junior Level teachers are veteran learners. They always come with a beginner's mind. In this atmosphere, there is a comfort level that allows organic exposure of what needs attention. While the training involved lessons on a myriad of details in teaching and questions on syllabi covering a total of over 90 poses, Kathleen often brought it back to our words.
'Do your words follow your intent? The idea came up not only with our teaching, where we would use confusing words to solicit an action, but also in our general questions. When someone articulated a question, it would seem clear at first what was being asked; however, Kathleen helped us understand how it could be interpreted in various ways. While it could be just "a matter of semantics," it's important to see how the subtle differences in language can create confusion. The amazing caliber of learners in our group allowed the possible interpretations to be aired freely. The more I listened to the banter the more I learned about the imperative for clarity.
Having the opportunity to take classes and train with Kathleen on a regular basis, I have slowly begun to develop an ear for the care she takes with her words. She has studied the words of BKS and his daughter, Geeta intently. She knows words are not thrown around lightly in Iyengar Yoga. They are carefully said or written to bring Light. Every word matters. When the words change, there's a reason. Developing a refined sense of what we want to say is a constant challenge. However, discrimination and wisdom with our words keep teachers from becoming white noise in the heads of our students.
Interestingly, I experienced something like this firsthand today, albeit in reverse. I had to finish some copy for a project and a woman who is renting a room in my house temporarily stayed home. Her job involves calling film production people, and though she worked in her room with the door closed, her voice carried. I found it impossible to work, so I had to leave and go to a coffee shop. It struck me how I could work undisturbed in such a crowded place. I texted Rusty Cobb, a music producer who works with sound regularly, and I asked him how I could write at Aurora Coffee with all the noise and not at home with one voice talking? He said, "It's all about clarity." Unbeknownst to my roommate (who is wonderful, by the way) her singular voice resonated clearly throughout the house.
Clarity gets our attention. Kathleen said in an earlier training that clarity can also come through the quality of our voice. Our tone plays a large role as well. The dynamics of the voice can become like a prop to our students to encourage, motivate, and keep them safe. In teacher training, Kathleen also made a point that to be clear doesn't always mean we have to use words. There is power in silence. When we demonstrate observable actions without words, it becomes another language (think sign language), and the eyes, not the ears form the impression.
Patanjali, credited for codifying the art, science, and philosophy of yoga through his 196 Sutras or aphorisms also wrote a commentary on the importance of purifying our speech and grammar. The American Sanskrit Institute says on their website, "Patanjali so perfectly captured the essence of yoga in his Sūtras that there is virtually no difference between theory and practice. The text is the practice."
Yoga develops the discrimination and wisdom that brings about lucidity in our thoughts and gives us more precision in our words. Iyengar Yoga offers a systematic way for that evolution to happen. Refining our speech is what will create the educational system, the neighborhood, the community, the business, the government, the city, the state, the world --the life we want.
In my opinion, it's a skill worth learning.
Namaste.
A big thank you to Kathleen Pringle for her time and insights. The tips on teaching inversions are invaluable. I'd also like to thank Nancy Mau for coming in on her anniversary and demonstrating exemplary teaching under our curious microscope. Finally, I want thank my training peers, who will always and forever be my teachers, too.
*Source: Yoga Sutras, The Practice by Vyaas Houston, M.A.
http://www.americansanskrit.com/yoga-sutra-article
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