Top Tips For Teaching Yoga In Schools - Tip #51: Ask...With Answers Prepared

Hi there,

Welcome back to the blog!

I’ve taken a VERY long (much longer than anticipated) hiatus from the blog, but I’m happy to be back with this weeks tip.

As Q2 starts, it’s time to start thinking about next school year, which means it’s also a great time to ask for what you want. 

Wait, what?

That’s right. Whether you’re teaching in the same school(s) or expanding into new ones, or hoping to, now is the time to ask the questions. 

Do you want to teach more grade levels? Ask. 

Do you want longer sessions with each of your classes? Ask. 

Do you want to start offering family yoga nights on top of your in school programming? Ask. 

So often, we are scared to ask. And yet so often when we do ask, the answer is resounding yes. And if it’s not a yes, then it’s a “no”, and while hearing “no” is never fun, that’s as bad as it’s going to get. Remember, “no” doesn’t always mean never - it often means “not now” or “not yet.”

Don’t let the fear of a “no” prevent you from asking the question. 

And before you ask, make sure you have the answer ready. 

I was recently emailing with a district administrator and had asked if I could help out with district-wide wholeness programming for our students. Her response was, “We haven’t thought about this fully yet. What did you have in mind?”

I was shocked that she was asking ME what I thought, when I was the one who had asked the question in the first place. 

So ask, but also have some ideas in place, so that when a school or district leader wants to know more or know specifics, you can tell them. 

Tip Takeaway: Ask for what you want when it comes to your school-based programming. The worst you’ll hear is “no”. And if you do ask, make sure you have concrete ideas or logistics already thought out and ready to share. By having answers to the questions you’re asking, it makes it much harder for a school leader to say “no”, and a lot easier for them to say “yes”.