Day #22 - Mentorship

When you enroll at RIMYI for the month you can pay to just do classes or pay a bit extra to observe classes as well.

Of course, I am here to observe as much as do!

I observed a class today which Abhijata was due to teach and an unexpected thing unfolded before my eyes.

Just before the class started I observed Abi talking to two Indian trainees/teachers.

Next minute one of them was on stage leading the prayers.

Then Abi said something which commanded all the student’s attention.

The next minute the other teacher was on stage starting the students in the first pose and she proceeded to teach the students for the next hour, but the whole time with Abi very near to her and guiding her.

What I observed was a beautiful symbiosis between the two.

Abi had a head cold (I guess it’s going around) so to conserve her energy she taught the class through another teacher.

Having said that I imagine this is how much of the mentoring/teacher training is conducted here at RIMYI.

Sometimes Abi would give the teacher just one or two poses to teach and let her teach them, other times she would give her every pose, almost every word.

And not just asana and actions, there was philosophy woven in as well.

I thought how daunting for the teacher to have to teach in front of Abi and be scrutinised, but she took it in her stride and was a conduit for Abi while also being a teacher in her own right, sharing her own jokes, insights, etc.

I have never seen this done in any teacher training in the west, but I have heard it is done.

I’m curious teachers… what do you think about this style of mentorship?

Do you see this at the school you attend?

As many of the teachers know there are big changes in the wings for the current teacher training/mentor model, which will be a big shift from what we know and have been doing for decades.