Advanced Yoga Teacher Training - Learning Motivational Interviewing
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training - Learning Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing is a yoga professional's secret communication tool.
Becoming an RYT (registered yoga teacher) is not the end of your introductory training; it's the beginning of the learning experience. There is immense opportunity for continued education, advanced yoga teacher trainings, and niche coursework available to you.
Teaching yoga goes beyond simply directing asana and into developing relationships. Your influence on your students' journey can be powerful, compassionate, and healing. One way to start purposefully communicating with your students is with Motivational Interviewing (MI).
Advanced YTT: What is Motivational Interviewing?
Between intense listening and dishing out directions lies Motivational Interviewing (MI). Motivational Interviewing is communication to address indecision or ambivalence without giving advice or engaging in confrontation. The practitioner uses a specific skill set to engage the student and draw out strengths, concerns, and meaning. The student is then able to facilitate changes if they so desire.
Motivational Interviewing is a partnership that understands that people are autonomous and are the foremost expert on their minds and bodies.
Motivational Interviewing encourages exploration of priorities, goals, and the like to create change. MI practitioners remain without judgment, show empathy, and support all decisions made with the utmost respect shown to the student.
Learn The Fundamental Processes of Motivational Interviewing
There are several fundamental processes in Motivational Interviewing. The practitioner is there to listen and reflect on the experiences and perceptions of the student. The process of communication becomes focused after both parties agree on a purpose. Evoking is the process of helping the student determine their reasonings for change, with the student's thought process leading the way. Lastly, the planning stage of Motivational Interviewing looks at the tools needed to follow through with change and create success steps.
Motivational Interviewing is particularly effective when a student is ambivalent, lacking confidence and desire to change, and the pros and cons of change are muddled. These signs are seen when people confront lifestyle changes, mental health challenges, and illness and imbalance.
How can using Motivational Interviewing in Yoga enhance the teacher-student relationship?
The practice of yoga encourages inward reflection, listening to your body, and connecting to yourself during a yoga session. What would it be like if your teachings could have insights into your student's inward journey?
Joining yoga and Motivational Interviewing builds trust and opens up that inward journey. Students have a safe space to communicate, without commentary, about their yoga intentions, journey, or challenges. You become the teacher that is a trusted source of empathy and individual guidance.
Motivational Interviewing provides clear feedback from your students and allows you to adjust your teachings to meet your student's strengths. As ambivalence fades and students make decisions, they become the central character in their yoga journey. You are still there to ask open questions and receive information, but the "shoulds" that many students do not benefit from are gone.
Learn more about Motivational Interviewing with Advanced Yoga Teacher Training
The skills and understanding of MI come with training, practice, and experience. Choosing to advance your knowledge base with advanced yoga teacher training opens up a world of possibilities for your career and community. Imagine reaching your students and supporting their progress based on their words and thoughts, thereby overcoming ambivalence and uncertainty. Motivational Interviewing makes this happen.
If you’re curious to learn more and advance your yoga teacher training, reach out to us at Prema Yoga Institute.
In fact, we’d love to invite you to enroll in our online courses. Our Advanced YTT has healthcare in mind, for example, our Yoga in Healthcare includes meditation and mindfulness teaching skills, that empower yoga teachers to interface more effectively with doctors and health care professionals.
Visit Prema Yoga Institute to learn more about our training, which is now available online with interactive trainings through 2022! Courses count as CE Credits with Yoga Alliance OR towards your RYT500 at Prema Yoga Institute.
PYI is an accredited program based in New York city, teaching students around the globe through online classes and trainings. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you advance your yoga practice and teaching!
Prema Yoga Institute is longer limited to New York City and is now available online with interactive trainings through 2022. PYI is an accredited program based in New York city, teaching students around the globe through online classes. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you advance your yoga practice and teaching!
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