Laughing and Crying: The Jekyll & Hyde of yoga class P1

January 31, 4:06 PMTampa Yoga ExaminerDanielle Hope Hier

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Child's Pose w/ arms extended

 The other day, I asked a student who was new to my class, "Have you ever done yoga before?"

Her reply was, "Once...sortof...But I was asked to leave."  She furrowed her brow slightly, not sure of how I would respond.  Since she was very jovial in my introduction to her, I felt comfortable in asking, playfully. "Why? What - did - you - do?"

"I couldn't stop laughing in class."

It was a yoga class she had taken at a local YMCA, where very serious-minded athletic types were there for a more power-based class.  While I will make the disclaimer now that I was not present in this situation, and am only going by my outside perceptions, I will make three assessments based on what I was told:

1)  From what I was told, I am lead to believe that the yoga instructor was not aware of how emotions  may be released - sometimes powerfully - in a yoga class, and was caught off guard.

2)  The instructor interpreted the laughter as a personal attack, and her ego was affected.  That is, she assumed that the student was either laughing at her - personally - or at the practice of yoga. 

3)  The student was laughing, either because of her own insecurity at not being able to do some of the more challenging poses (and was nervous), or because her poses triggered some type of emotional response (probably a combination of the two).

If you are a STUDENT reading this, I would offer the following suggestions, should a similar situation happen in your class:

1)  If someone else is laughing in class, I can reassure you, they are NOT laughing at you. The poses may seem unusual and funny to them, and that's OKAY.

2)  If you begin laughing uncontrollably, understand that that reaction is to be celebrated.  You are simply releasing excess emotions housed in the body, and letting go of insecurities about your body, your ability to do yoga, or that feeling of your emotions becoming "exposed" in class.  Laughter can represent mild embarrassment, and yoga is meant to be a SAFE space that allows for you to acknowledge those insecurities.

If you are a TEACHER reading this, I would offer the following, should this happen in your class:

1)  If laughter is a disruption to your class, I would first a) acknowledge the laughter and LAUGH ALSO, and then b) remind the class that emotions tend to surface during practice and that's not only okay, but should be celebrated, and c) return the class to Mountain (if standing) or Child's Pose (if seated) to "recover".   You may want to politely ask the student to return to either of these poses if they are laughing throughout the class (to the point of not being able to continue with the lesson).

2) Change the lesson plan for the next ten minutes.  I would go through a segment on "Laughter Yoga".  If you are unfamiliar with laughter yoga, then an easy way to bring the group back together is by practicing the "Ha" breath.  This is done simply by inhaling deeply into the belly and opening the mouth and letting out a loud "Ha!" with exhalation, rolling through the back of the throat, and then out the mouth.  If people feel funny making a loud sound in class, an alternative is inhaling through the nose, filling the belly, and exhaling a loud sigh.  After a few "sighs", then people generally feel more comfortable working into a "Ha". 

Don't be surprised if a few more students burst out into laughter.  It also tends to produce a feeling of lightness, so the laughter will naturally subside in a few minutes, and you can return to your class as planned.

Most importantly: Unless a student is being verbally or physically abusive to you or your students, NEVER allow a student to feel ashamed or embarrassed in your class, by asking them to leave or in any way making them feel as if their actions are inappropriate.   It is our job as instructors to create a safe space.

*Part 2 will cover crying in class, and how to approach it.