How to Support Your Student’s Wellbeing During COVID-19
Approximately 1 in 4 people (in the UK) suffer from a mental health condition . Couple this with recent research suggesting that 300 million people practise yoga worldwide, and it is reasonable to assume that someone in your yoga class has experienced, is experiencing or will experience an episode of poor mental health. Given our current circumstances, this likelihood is significantly higher, as mental health charities have reported an increase in cases of anxiety, OCD and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Yet for all this, yoga teachers are not therapists, nor should they be dealt with the responsibility of counselling their students. Mental health is a delicate matter that requires a unique sensitivity and education, knowledge not obtained in a foundation teacher training. What yoga teachers can do is take steps to ensure their students feel safe and supported in class. Below are some suggestions on how to do so. “How are you, really?” Ask your students how they are. It