The Secrets Of Group Teaching

I have been writing about group teaching in my last two blogs. This is my last post on that.*

Actually, these three blogs are based on a series of 3 emails sent to Alexander teachers living in the UK about a Symposium ATSuccess has organised for Jan/Feb 2016 in London. It kicks off with a free online course (click here to join).

The free online course is about how to structure and teach groups so that you can attract students and keep them coming back for years to come. Join it now!

What appealed to me at the start of my lessons was my self-discovery, not my relief. Of course it was nice to loose my pains – actually, that was incredible – and yet it wasn’t the reason I kept coming back.

And it won’t be the reason your students stick to you.

The key to creating a successful learning paradigm in group teaching is gathering a group of students who are all passionate about doing something, usually the same thing.

Musicians are the obvious example.

Sure, many come because of discomfort, but most stay because they can hear their music improving. Our work is about development, not rehabilitation. The rehab part is a bonus, and it’s not the part that will keep your students returning for year after year.

That comes from growth, from personal development.

In fact, as I write I am preparing the second day of our new Yoga Pro teacher education course in Japan. Today we have gathered together a group of 15 Yoga instructors who are passionate about what they do. I teach one activity in this class, and I am inundated with questions! They inspire each other and the atmosphere is full of curiosity and joy. It is so fun to teach.

Group teaching – when you get over whatever concern you have about it – is a wonderful environment to explore Alexander's discovery. It is a community experience. We are mammals, social creatures – our most natural habitat is to be with each other. This gives group teaching a sound biological basis for accelerated learning. Mammals watch each other, they listen and digest what others say and do: they learn from each other. That’s our design.

And it isn’t my opinion, it’s just how it is.

ATSuccess, the organisation I put together to support teachers gather pupils, puts the principle of niching your teaching front and centre. Go ahead and assemble a group of people with a common interest – better, a common passion. Now you are situated in the development context, not the rehabilitation context. Of course people still have aches and pains, however, now they pursue their “rehabilitation” in order to (for example) play better music.

And that means they become secure, long-term students. And that means your financial health goes up a few notches, and your financial anxiety decreases. Cool he?

How Do You Teach Your Group?

Easy.

You ask them what they want to do. It sounds simple because it is.

What is complicated are all the habits your students will have around learning!

You ask them: what do you want to do? And they sit there staring back at you silently. OMG. What now?

You must first “organise” them into activities.

First, break it down. For example, this morning in my Yoga Pro class I will ask them all to consider an asana (pose) they would like to teach the group. They draw it, then write down any wishes and concerns they have. After they have completed that, I pass around a hat to collect their papers, then I pull one out from the hat and say:

“OK, let’s look at this asana.”

We’re off and away.

Now we have an activity that all my members are fascinated by, and it’s something that arises from their own wish to learn. When students are doing what they want to do, they learn faster, go deeper and retain what you teach them for longer. They are more fun to teach too.

Of course, if your usual way of teaching has been chairwork, this method takes you into unknown territory. Terrifying!

Good.

Isn’t that what keeps you awake?

What keeps you on your own learning edge? Wasn’t one of Alexander’s fondest expressions for the work: ”taking you from the known to the unknown”?

Of course there is a lot more to learn and discover on how to work with activities in groups. This will be a free component of the ATSuccess online course starting soon. I’m excited as Lee Warren – who is a masterful leader of groups in the competitive corporate arena – has signed on to share his discoveries with us. He will be giving the evening Keynote on Jan 29th in London.

There are also over a 100 teachers who have been applying the 12 ATSuccess steps to building their practice who will also join you in this course. Currently we have 14 teachers from around the world in our one year coaching program. These are all teachers who want to be successful.

All of us at ATSuccess are passionate about helping you build a successful practise.

Click here now and join the free online course if you haven’t already!

*When you join ATSuccess’ free online course, there is an edited version of my last three blogs about “Why Do Group Teaching”. There is also a free download of articles I wrote over the years about How To Teach In Groups. You can get all this by clicking here and joining the free online course. If you can’t get to the London Symposium, this is the next best thing!

(BTW – if you are reading this blog in the archives, just sign up for my mailing list below to keep in touch. ATSuccess is always doing new things!)