Brian Cooper

Much less commercial and a minority interest. No fancy yoga outfits, and no yoga mats: we just used the floor and a blanket or rug. I personally seldom attended a yoga class but practised on my own. The yoga world was a lot smaller and yoga students were by and large rather quiet, modest people who preferred yoga to sports.

My teaching style evolved over many years and it can take a long time to find your voice, your own individual approach, but I would say that my Iyengar teacher in Germany taught me the value of being both strict and taking an interest in every single student’s practice and progress. He based his approach on his very dedicated practice and it taught me the value of self practice and enquiry. I became more confident in how I was teaching because it was based on my own practice and experience, and not anyone else’s.

Asking for money. I felt I shouldn’t be asking for very much because somehow what I was doing wasn’t a real profession. After I had taught a workshop attended mainly by teachers, a participant came up to me and said I was underrating myself and that I had to charge what I was worth. This included all the training and daily hours of practice I had invested in my teaching.

That I am here to communicate the teachings of yoga, but not to associate myself too closely to the outcomes. Yoga takes care of itself, you have to learn to let go of your ego and desire to succeed. When you do that you will find yoga opens itself to both you and your students.

I wouldn’t say anything but I would ask a lot of questions. There is a high probability they are overwhelmed and it’s important to sort out exactly where the problem is, and to narrow it down to specifics. Once you have identified specific areas you can address them far more easily. What may have seemed insurmountable becomes approachable.

I hope that yoga is still taught by real teachers, authentic teachers who practise what they teach. Yoga itself may have transformed and evolved but its essence should be carried through time.