The Benefits of Private Yoga Over Public Classes
Historically, yoga was taught one on one. One teacher and one student. Classically in India, a young boy was sent to live with a teacher who would guide his education, practice, and development. Once the student left the teacher’s auspices, yoga was still taught to a single person. This took into account a person’s age, physical condition, ayurvedic constitution, ability, and capacity.
In the mid-1900s, with the growth of spiritual interest and modernization, yoga exploded into a global platform that emphasized enlightenment, physical capacity, and spiritual superiority. Yoga was taken to the West by women. Quickly, many disciplines found footholds in Europe and the Americas, and eventually the rest of the world.
Most of these practices are taught to a large number of individuals at the same time. It does not take any of the above concerns into serious light, choosing instead to deliver a group and community experience.
It is unwise to vilify one over the other. Each method of transmission has its pros and cons. In private yoga or yoga therapy, the focus is entirely on the practitioner. A qualified teacher will take into account all important markers and be able to deliver an experience that is truly tailored to their needs. Generally, this tends to produce a greater impact on the practitioner, and skill, growth, and personal development are at the center of this method.
On the other hand, we must agree that the world has changed, and having the financial ability for private teaching or therapy is not readily available to all. Furthermore, life has become busier, with more demands on individuals of all ages. Therefore, public classes are a great way to maximize the cost and benefits of a practice.
In both cases, the most important thing to consider is the connection to the teacher. If you have the right teacher, the practice will come and growth is soon to follow. A good teacher isn’t necessarily your friend. Ideally, they are friendly but keep space to be a neutral third party that takes their role seriously. Furthermore, a teacher should be well educated. Yoga trainings can be deceptive; find a teacher that has a long history and exposure. An ethical teacher is generally in a position of authority, so it’s crucial that they work with the utmost integrity with their students. In my personal experience, the world needs fewer Gurus and more Acharyas. A guru requires blind faith and strict devotion, while an Acharya is a teacher that is walking the same path but perhaps further down the line. For me, an acharya is not devoted to the ego of being a teacher but to the service of helping others and the love of the teachings themselves. Be selective of who you choose as your teacher. The things mentioned matter greatly, and so does your instinct to connect and learn. The relationship that develops between student and teacher is paramount: it will be tested. A good teacher is not there to just be your friend; they are a guide and a reference to help you be the best version of yourself. They will give you feedback (some of it may not be easy to hear), and they will have empathy.
Over my 20-year career in yoga, I have had the privilege of doing both private and public teachings. If it’s possible, do both. I have a home personal practice that has been set by my mentor for the past 16 years, and I often attend public classes from teachers that resonate with me. The personal/private practice is a daily ritual that is equivalent to food; my private/personal practice sustains and feeds me. Public classes allow me to stay connected to my community and learn in different ways from individuals with different points of view.
Start where you can……trust that the rest will follow when you are ready to receive it.