"The unbearable recklessness of the trainee" - Marco M.

The unbearable recklessness of the trainee

What happens around me, the various problems to solve and the challenges to think about are always an excellent source to be able to practice but also, as in this case, to explain in practical terms what otherwise remain abstract philosophical thoughts detached from reality.

What is happening, fortunately not very often, in the relationships with our "students" but which I unfortunately see much more often also in all areas that have to do with work and study, is the tendency to believe in thoughts such as: "the less I do the better", "the less it costs me the more valid it is", "if I don't struggle and it doesn't cost me sacrifices it's preferable".  Basically, we no longer value hard work and sacrifice and believe that getting anything at zero effort is preferable to the other way around. The post-human society towards which we are moving, relegates the human being to total uselessness and, unfortunately, there are those who do not understand the tragic effects on our lives of such a thing and seem to be looking forward to it.

But now let's get down to business. We specialize in courses to become Yoga teachers. At every given opportunity, I say out loud that the diploma is just a piece of paper, in reality now it is often a virtual object made of bits, but in this context it makes no difference. The piece of paper itself is worth nothing. A person enrolls in a course both to learn "things" but also, and above all, to have an experience that for many has been, and I hope that for many will be, a flame through which to shed light on one's life when it is appropriate to change it.

Among our courses we have the on-demand one (for Italian speakers only) that has its own validity and of which I am happy. The on-demand course is functional for those who already teach other practices that involve movement and want to integrate their professionalism with Yoga. Or it is useful to those who want to practice Yoga independently from a teacher. It applies only and exclusively to these two categories. For all the others I would advise against it because, as already mentioned in another post a short time ago, the Yoga teacher does not teach techniques and the most important thing is to be able to relate to others and support them, which cannot happen with an on-demand course.

Then we have the weekend courses in the various locations (for Italian speakers only) and the residential ones. Obviously, everyone comes to terms with their own life, but in terms of experience and sparkle, the residential one is my favorite. As mentioned, at the beginning, however, it often happens to see people who enroll in courses and then try to do as little as possible.  They don't want to work hard, or put in an effort, basically they don't value their time. Instead of being focused on the path, they are totally projected on the finish line, which is to complete the course and get the diploma. They believe, in a totally ignorant way, that it is not the path that gives them the skills to be valid teachers, but it is a piece of paper combined with having "participated in a course". We then find ourselves dealing with people who incomprehensibly pay for a course and then want to do as little as possible instead of the other way around. Some, for me the most incomprehensible of all, do not give value to the experience of the intensive retreat which remains the space in which instead a bond is created, a small community flame and above all one can tests oneself outside one's comfort zone (one's own home, one's own habits) being participants in a ritual that obliges everyone,  including myself, to give their all and get to the end of the four or more days exhausted yet feeling that sense of satisfaction of those who have completed a task. Finally, there are those who would like to do everything in streaming, from home, in complete comfort and without fuss. For all those who belong to this last category, I end with the verses of the greatest Italian poet: "I have what I have given". (D'Annunzio) 

m.m.