You Know It’s Working: When the Student Becomes the Teacher

Watching yoga students blossom is one of my favorite things about being a yoga teacher. When a student returns to class and tells me about using a technique or practicing poses on their own, my heart swells.

Well, when a student becomes a teacher, that’s even more rewarding!

OK, so what do I mean by that?

Start with the Breath

We start each yoga class with a breathing technique. I don’t just lead students through the same breathing practice week after week; we explore several breathing exercises.

First off, there are so many wonderful (and healing) breathing techniques out there. Secondly, I would get bored just teaching the same one over and over and over again. And, finally, not all students are the same.

Some yoga students just love practicing the Ujjayi Breath. Others enjoy Alternate Nostril Breathing. While some need the constant count in their head that the Four-Square Breath offers.

Alright, back to the point of the post. The student became the teacher.

Anchor Breath

So, one week, I facilitated something called the Anchor Breathing technique. In fact, this breathing exercise is a newer one for me. I learned it while going through my own yoga teacher training program.

The anchor breath is neat. It’s just like it sounds.

Picture a boat out at sea. When the boat wants to stop and allow the crew a break for the night, it can drop an anchor. The anchor settles the boat in place.

Well, the breathing technique (called the Anchor Breath) is like that. You use the breath to anchor the body. You watch the breathing in specific areas of the body in order to stay present to the breath. It’s quite lovely, actually. One of my favorites.

I taught the Anchor Breath during our first class in a six-week session. Claudia was in class that night, and always soaked everything up that I offered. As a job, she worked in a middle school as a guidance counselor.

Breathwork in Action

Claudia came back to week two of yoga class, and when I asked the group what they tried or played around with in the past week, she was quick to respond. She said that she not only practiced the Anchor Breath herself, but she taught it to a student!

An upset 12-year-old came into her office. Claudia’s first reaction to the ranting and tears was to try to get the student to focus on her breath. The student’s reaction?

“I don’t need to breathe right now! Ugh!! That isn’t helping me! And, I can’t! What do you mean “Focus on my breath?”

Feeling frustrated, Claudia took a deep breath herself. And, out of nowhere, she told us she heard herself starting to explain the Anchor Breathing technique to the troubled student in her office.

Claudia shared with me and the class how the student immediately latched onto the breathing technique. The student was able to understand what Claudia was saying, tried it out, and actually found it useful in that moment.

Win for the student! Huge win for Claudia!! And happy dancing over here as a proud yoga teacher!!!

The Student Becomes the Teacher

I was thrilled to hear that Claudia found the breathing exercise so useful for herself that she was already teaching it to others. That’s when you know people are really learning and creating new healthy habits.

When the student becomes the teacher… oh, the joy!

I share this story not as a means of tooting my own horn (though, I was proud of Claudia). I relay all of this to you so you can consider… what holistic/healing practices have you gone through as a practitioner? Do you continue to practice what you’ve learned in yoga class?

Maybe, most importantly, have you shared any of your healthy learnings with those you love?

About the Author: Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN, RYT (200) is a holistic nurse, registered yoga instructor, and reiki master.

Elizabeth received her dual master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified coach, nature lover, and avid meditator.

Elizabeth lives in Maryland with her supportive husband and playful pit bull. She enjoys gardening, jigsaw puzzles, farming, music, and hiking.