How To Become A Creative Teacher

To become a teacher is one thing, to be a creative teacher is another. Teaching is a blend of science and art, and is where knowledge is shared and when wisdom is passed on.

But creativity is where imagination dances with innovation in order to create something that is original, clever, and ideally useful. Creativity is the space where we make unexpected connections and visions come alive. For us teachers it is a time-space where fresh ideas and solutions become not only a practice, but a spectacle that our students are not only witness to but also participants.

I’m saying creativity is where we turn the ordinary into something that can be quite extraordinary.

So here are 7 key ideas on how to strengthen your position as a creative teacher or to start working towards becoming one:

1. Think of yourself as an instigator and a leader.

“People want to be led, not taught!”

I had already been teaching for 12/13 years before I realised (better late than never, right) that people actually prefer guidance and direction over formal instruction.

Now I get it - People crave more than just information or instructions. They want that extra 'je ne sais quoi'! There is something about tapping into our innate inclination towards being led that really strikes a chord.

They want you to show them you know your stuff (your expertise), to hear something beyond what they already know or believe (that's just validation), and I think most people actually want to do something fresh and inspiring. I'm talking about leadership here really. So as a creator, don't just teach - lead!

You have the power to instigate change and inspire others through your words, ideas, and movements. Don't be afraid to step into that role and guide your students towards something bigger.

To be practical, use vivid and even foul language sometimes, crazy metaphors, and both direct and rhetorical questions to paint a picture in their minds and encourage them to think deeply about their own ways of feeling, sensing and moving on the mat; and also off the mat.

The creative teacher is someone who not only shares knowledge but also inspires, challenges and motivates their students to think and move outside the box.

2. Be a risk taker and share your quest,
and with that your mistakes!

Becoming a creative teacher involves stepping into the unknown and taking risks, simply.

There are many demands which include: 

•  Embracing every part of the creative journey: the good, the bad, the ugly
•  Sharing not just the triumphs and the breakthroughs, but also the mistakes, the change of heart and the loss of motivation 
•  Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things
•  And having leaps of faith! 

Now, let's be clear risk-taking is not about being reckless or impulsive. It's very much about being intentional and often very calculated. I'm talking about taking thoughtful risks that align with your values and your goals.

By sharing your quest and your mistakes, you not only inspire others to take their own risks, but you can create a strong sense of connection and even intimacy. So share the themes of your research with your students and don't be afraid to be open and honest about the questions and the doubts you’re wrestling with.

To make a long story short, a teacher who models risk-taking is someone who promotes a culture of exploration and creativity in his/her classes. It just so happens that:

Creativity is exploration, and 'exploration' is the opposite of certainty!

3. Bring the ingredients and cook with your students!

“Don’t give them a ready meal!”

The creative teacher is not a pizza delivery guy who gives you a box with a product that’s ready to consume. The creative teacher is a chef, and his/her students are sous-chefs. So come to class ready to cook, don’t show up with a ready-meal!

The thinking here is this: “Tell me and I’ll forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll learn” (Benjamin Franklin)

The creative teacher involves his students, she doesn’t just deliver a finished sequence, an already put together series of postures taught with a scripted set of cues, or the perfect 6 minute lecture on the Upanishads.

The beauty and art of learning is not just in receiving information, but in actively engaging with it. It's about getting your hands dirty, making mistakes and finding your own unique ways of understanding and applying that knowledge.

Involvement leads to ownership. And my belief is that when people are actually involved in their learning process, they have to take more responsibility for their progress.

They're no longer simply passive recipients of knowledge, but active participants in their own growth and in the creation of their own flow.

4. Understand that as a creator your product IS the process!

The process of creating is where the real magic happens. As a teacher the process of trying things out is where you will discover and grow your creative magic... and I believe it's also where you truly become "of service" to your students. 

Furthermore, it matters very little that creators like us do not like to think of our teaching as products. The thing is the practice we generate with our students is what people buy when they show up to the studio, on our screens and our retreats. 

Better breathing, philosophical insights, body acceptance, a sense of community, better physical abilities and less physical pains, etc… are all the results of a practice that is itself a process... and that process, for the creative teacher, is the primary product.

The interesting, and so challenging, thing is that this creative process goes back and forth and means absolutely nothing and everything all at once as it is very possible that the process may produce something that doesn’t stick. 

We create a practice (the main product) that is useful for people to discover, expand, and ideally exploit their own potential as human beings who are flexible in both mind and body.

5. Remember that “Necessity is the mother of invention”,
so make your teaching relevant by helping solve a problem!

I’m proud to say that every sequence in the Space & Flow repertoire was created in “real time”, in the room with people who directly and indirectly provided me with challenges, questions, limitations, and even doubts.

Over the years, and in every one of my classes, I developed the habit of walking around the room to shake people’s hands and ask about their issues, their states of mind and being, the limitations they were experiencing, and anything else they cared to share.

And I did that whilst watching the movements and unconscious physical expressions/demands in the room. From there I would create something aimed at one particular person (my avatar) without saying so publicly. The creation (the main sequence) was meant to serve and include that person and their limitations, and at the same time challenge everyone else.

After thousands of classes (literally) I got pretty good at it. Check out the Shango sequence, which I created for a couple of people in the room that day who mentioned they had pain lifting their arms to the side. So the goal was to show that arms not only can go up through the centre of the body but also actually start at the bottom of your rib cage, not at the shoulders!

6. Get comfortable with not hitting the mark all the time and not getting it right.

As mentioned before one of the key roles of the creative teacher is to “embrace imperfection”. This, for me and many, started with a mindset shift. Instead of striving for perfection, which is unrealistic and just daft, and also very frustrating (trust me), you shift your focus towards a growth-centric approach.

This means you recognise that every mistake, every failure, and every challenge is actually an opportunity to learn, grow, and become a better creator and teacher.

When I switched to this mindset, I gave myself permission to experiment, take risks, and try new things. This led me to develop new and innovative (or at least different) teaching techniques. What I saw in return was more engaged students and, interestingly, more teachers showing up to take my classes.

When you take risks in front of others, learn from your mistakes, and become resilient in the face of challenges - like not necessarily being understood all the time - you eventually become someone that people go to be for inspiration.

So, empower your students by embracing imperfection and by promoting a growth-orientated learning environment; a space where students are encouraged to learn from their mistakes, take risks, and be resilient when things are challenging. Slowly (perhaps) but surely your regular students will become more motivated and confident learners.

7. Find inspiration by working with artists, dreamers, and go-getters!

The short story goes like this: Artists need other artists, and so does the world!

Learning from artists, dreamers, and go-getters enhances your personal and professional growth as a creator and teacher. As you open yourself up to new, different, and challenging experiences, you will find that your passion for teaching grows deeper, and that you can develop your potential and skills to levels you never thought would be possible.

Immersing myself with diverse creative energies has been so very important for my growth as a teacher and trainer. I’m talking about people, places, and specific teachers who have been instrumental in keeping that creative spark within me alive for many years. This is how I was given the tools and the courage to explore teaching in a way that eventually became my very own.

So the advice is this: immerse yourself in diverse, and divergent, creative energies!
Like me I’m sure you'll be amazed at how much being inspired yourself will do for your creativity, your teaching, and of course for your students.

In conclusion, Creative Teaching is all about getting students involved, recognising that the magic doesn't rely on the end result, but in the journey we take together.

Remember that we're more than just teachers. We are leaders, instigators, and artists in our own right. We have the power to inspire, to make of imperfection something cool, and to organise an entire journey of learning that in the end makes of our students colleagues-in-the-making.

So let your teaching be a quest for creativity, connection, and growth.

The mission, if you decide to accept it, is to keep sparking curiosity, innovation, and inspiration in the bodies, minds, and hearts of those you serve.

Raphan
6 November, 2023