Mirroring

I was hoping we could have some dialogue going in re: "mirroring". I don't mirror. I seem to have a mental block and don't know the difference between my right and left even on my best days. To mirror only gets more confusing for everyone. I use alternatives that seem to work for my students.

Recently, however, the Director of the Yoga program at the health club attended one of my classes and made an issue of my not mirroring and is strongly encouraging me to change my ways.

Can I get feedback from folks on this. Does anyone have any secret tricks of the trade?

ANSWERS:

From Debra Witte Serao:

Dear Laura, Boy, my understanding goes out to you! Sometimes that "mirroring" can get confusing. All I can say is TRUST, PRACTICE, ASK for assistance from Spirit. Somehow when I am facing my class I have just made a mental adjustment to call my right - LEFT and to call my left - RIGHT. Just practice. Slow down when you are giving directions.

Note: when you get confused - use room reference points. For instance "the arm closest to the windows" or "the side closest to the blank wall" and the all time bail out on the second side is to say "and now for your other side.." Good luck - you and your brain can do it! Think of it as stretching your mental flexibility!

Debra AYYT Jan '97

Greetings, My name is Gale, AYTT Graduate of Aug. 2002. I teach in Red Bluff and Redding CA.

I too have been working on my mirroring. I really like to do it for my students but sometimes I mess up! I just laugh and explain to them I'm working on it. They usually are very understanding. Make little jokes "oh I mean your left" and we enjoy the effort together. I try to look at their moves which helps me realize which side they are moving. I also just concentrate on saying the opposite of what I'm doing and the more I do it the easier it gets. When I look at my right leg, I say left, etc. Some poses are easier than others so I suggest you start with the ones that are easiest for you. Good luck. Have some fun with it. It will come. I know I'll be practicing for some time but my students don't have to know everything. Just a little secret, we're all learning together.

Blessings, Gale

From Valerie Wint, AYTT Fall 2001

I've been mirroring ever since I started teaching. It takes concentration — that mind-body connection. My biggest challenge is always ardha matsyendrasana. But the way I deal with it is to be slightly ahead of the students, look deliberately at what side I'm on, and just as deliberately say the opposite. Be patient with yourself. A little humour goes a long way too -- "I'll learn left from right sometime soon." Your students will understand, and before long it will come.

Namaste – Valerie

From Lisa Macy - AYTT Spring 2002

This is tough for me too, esp. since I'm a leftie. I do best when I have everyone place their mats facing the same direction (all parallel to the front wall, for example) and make sure we're all facing the same way when we do something like warrior (eveyone's front foot facing to the east wall).

Then I think first what limb I'm using (left) & say the opposite (right). (Honestly, sometimes the only way I know which is my left is to move the hand I write with.) It's slow & feels ponderous to me, but the students don't seem to notice or mind.

I also do a lot of pointing :) (extend the arm toward THIS wall)

And I am constantly laughing out loud at myself when I mess up. They'll laugh too, it's ok.

For me, to look at the students & try to figure it out COMPLETELY messes me up, so I'm focused on myself when I'm talking through the mirroring, but once I'm there & have said it, I turn my focus back to them.

If a student is confused, and my mirroring doesn't help. I'll go stand in front of him/her with my back to their front, and then have them slowly move into the posture with me, watching me. Often, that helps much more than talking it through on something where your limbs are moving lots of different ways like triangle or twists.

In fact, for the times when my brain refuses to engage on right/left issues, I'll turn my back to the class & demonstrate the posture facing the front just as they are. (You can't do this too much, but when you are in brain-freeze it's a life saver.)

Peace, Lisa

Georgia Stansell, RYT AYTT May, 2000

Great question, Laura!!

I teach both ways... it seems to depend on my mental clarity, the class level and the students mental clarity. I'm not required to mirror, so I'm not sure how i would respond to having to change my ways... I would probably use a pen and put a little L on my left foot and hand and an R on the right.

It's been my experience that kids and some adult students seem to NOT do well when they hear 'right', 'left' instructions. ...And there are days when my brain is scattered and I don't do well giving R, L instructions when my body is doing the opposite.

When I teach the more advanced classes, I automatically mirror but i don't know if that's because students already know the poses and things seem to flow smoothly. ??? For me, being comfortable with mirroring has been a matter of practice.

Here is another teaching 'trick' that I have learned through trial and error.... Using a permanent marker, I draw a straight line, lengthwise down the center of most of the mats in the studio. (I own the mats so this is ok) Then in class I use the line as a reference marker for placement.... "Place R foot on the line" ect. yadda, yadda This seems to help students orient themselves on the mat.

best of luck!
Georgia Stansell, RYT AYTT May, 2000

From Marcia Framsted, AYTT 1989

Dear Laura, I want you to know that "mirroring" isn't anything. Don't worry, do not be intimidated by the "Director". I have been teaching yoga since 1989 and I never mirror anything. If my right leg is forward, I tell the class to put their right leg forward. If we are doing triangle I may give specific right - left instructions or I may do the pose so they can see it and then give them specific instructions on 'how-to' and do the pose again with them. Our students also have left-right orientation or disorientation difficulties at times.....no big deal. I tell my students that the most correct way to do any posture is with more awareness about their own body and breath, not try to copy me (do the pose exactly like me). Yoga means union. I think this union is unique for each yogi and yogini. We are not yoga clones. Have fun and let your heart and inner knowing guide you as you teach.

Blessings dear one,
Marcia

From Karen Yula, AYTT July 2002

Hi Laura: All I can tell you is practice, practice, practice! I teach music during the day to elementary students and I warm their bodies up before we sing and I tell them things like, O.K. kids hold up your left hand and I'll hold up my right. I want to be your mirror image so you can see what side I mean. I do things like that. I take my time and repeat, repeat, repeat. Or I'll say, raise the hand closest to the door, or the inside wall or the hand closest to the windows(whichever applies) When I do energization exercises, that seems to be the easiest. Forget Jathara Parivartanosana! That one is a killer. I try to do that watching my yoga class that I teach once a week and I have a difficult time with that one. So I usually end up doing it with them and explain VERY CLEARLY, LET THEM HOLD THE POSE AND GET UP AND LOOK AT THEM. I THEN GO AROUND AND DO AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE ILLIAC CREST. Good luck and let me know how you do. I have an advantage by practicing with the kids during the day.

Blessings,
Karen

From Korelle Hendee:

Mirroring takes practice, and it does get easier in time. In the beginning, I used to tell my students that I am learning to mirror, and to please bear with me in the learning process. I find it most helpful to mirror students in standing poses. I acually look at them while giving instructions, and direct "right or left" from their perspective. I often don't think about my own "right or left" because I am focusing on the students "right or left", and trying to mirror them. This way I don't have to do the constant reversal in my mind. Another thing I find helpful is to spend a few minutes before the class getting into a "mirroring mode." Practice a pose or two, and if you can in front of a mirror. Most importantly, be patient with yourself, and don't forget to laugh a little. Students really appreciate a teacher that is learning and growing with them. Mirroring does help you connect with your students, and that positive intention will help guide you. Asking for Divine guidance may also bless your practice of mirroring.

Blessings,
Korelle

From Alan & Maitri Guerrie

Laura, I wrote or taped a round stickie "R" on my left big toe and left pointer finger and "L" on my right. A few times did the trick and no one noticed. It worked for me. Good luck.

Maitri Guerrie

From Karen Barbarick

Mirroring is difficult in the beginning, but I have noticed that it allows me to participate at a much deeper level. Sometimes teaching classes become like automatic pilot. Mirroring adds a level of consciousness that we aren't used to. It develops a new pathway in the brain. Isn't that what yoga is all about.

If there are a lot of different movements involved for example in a spinal twist then turn around turning your back to them. You don't need to mirror all the poses. When you end up turning and looking over your shoulder you will be able to see them more clearly. Other poses like Moon pose or triangle pose are much easier to mirror.

Take your time with it and allow yourself to get confused. Its part of the process. Let your students know you are just starting to mirror and they will allow for mistakes as well.

You definitely have to stay engaged when you mirror. It deepens our practice as teachers as well as Yoga students.

Human beings haven't always had access to mirrors but when, in our evolution, mirrors became more accessible we began seeing ourselves in a much different light. This happens to both teacher and student, I believe. When you start mirroring you start reflecting.

Lovingly
Karen

From Juli Stone:

I always mirror in my classes, and when I started I just kept saying beforehand to myself while tapping my index and middle finger against my thumb on my right hand: "This is my left, this is my left, this is my left...." Now if I get mixed up in class, which doesn't happen much anymore (except Ardha Matsyendrasana is a challenge), I just repeat to myself, while focusing on my right hand, "This is my left...etc." A friend who is an Ananda yoga teacher gave me this tip, and it's always worked for me. The repetition really helped me, as well as having one consistent way to remind myself. Hope it can help you.

Blessings, Juli