Often we see ourselves in students – that can be the beginning of a prejudice or attempt to “fix” that unhealed perceived “defect” the in the child. This is where all our unconscious prejudices come from. We cannot prevent them but if we are aware of ourselves and teaching consciously and mindful of these inevitibilities, we can curtail bias or favoritism. Many people work around children for reasons that lie in the unconscious; the compulsion is there to fix children with needs that we think should be met and over with. A special bias against privileged children prevents us from seeing the god in all. A misplaced fear of the alleged bully or mean girl can blind us from seeing they are one step away from being great heroes and healers and leaders. Why did they end up in your room? Why are they on those mats? Is it just a random thing or could you give them the key or tool they’ve been looking for? At the teacher training that I do with Crystal and Dr. Nevins, we participate in exercises that bring up our unconscious or conscious biases, aversions, preferences and prejudices. Thanks to these exercises, I am very aware of my tendencies to favor the unpopular kid. The loner. But the awareness of it gives me choices. I can notice it, rather than act on it, now that I have the awareness, which I don't even judge anymore. I love that our yoga is the Yoga of Awareness. Not the yoga of Yogi Bhajan, not the Yoga of a Guru: the Teacher is in the "Teachings".
