Workshop – A Weekend for Teachers and Serious Students: The Tricky Business of Teaching Beginners

Date: 3 full days of Classes: Friday - Sunday, June 22-24
With: John Schumacher
Cost: $385 (Accommodations not included in fee.)
Location: Serendipity Retreat

Friday-Sunday. Students are often surprised that as a senior teacher who teaches advanced pupils and teachers, I also teach beginners.  I love teaching beginners. I welcome the opportunity and the challenge to capture their attention and turn them on to the art and science of yoga, to share with them the passion I feel toward the subject, and to watch them awaken their bodies, the amazing connection between their bodies and their minds, and the dawning realization that yoga isn’t just about stretching and bending.

It is ironic that the class that beginning instructors are most likely to teach is a beginners’ class and that at the same time, beginners are among the most difficult students to teach. More experienced students bring some knowledge and enthusiasm to class, so there is usually a lot of give and take in those classes.

Beginners, on the other hand, are often tentative and reserved, which means that you, the teacher, must essentially pick them up and carry them on your back without getting much juice in return. Not only that, you must know how much information to give them (not too much, not too little), how to build up their practice at an appropriate pace (not too fast, not too slow), what sorts of problems are prevalent among beginners and how to deal with them, how to keep beginners interested and coming back, and lots of other stuff as well.

We’ll explore the subject by practicing beginning poses to deepen our understanding of their essential elements, by practice teaching a beginning class, and by observing what our beginning students are showing us and learning what we should do with what we see.

Between classes enjoy the laid back funky charm of Berkeley Springs or just relax in the tranquility of Serendipity’s peaceful forest setting.

SCHEDULE: (please note that brochure has incomplete schedule)

Friday, June 22 - 9am-12pm & 4-6pm

Saturday, June 23 –  9am-12pm & 4-6pm

Sunday, June 24 - 9am-12pm

Sunday, June 24  - Brunch 12-2pm

If you are staying onsite at Serendipity please arrive after 3pm on Thursday, June 21.