Interesting blog. I had a class yesterday with a teacher who felt like the Yoga Nazi. She was just trying to get everyone to reach as far as they could, but she had no awareness of each person's limitations. Although it was labelled as an "intermediate" class, the usual instructor is wonderful about giving alternatives to the poses, so that I can still be part of the class. With this substitute instructor, I felt alienated in the class. Rather than welcoming, it felt harsh and judgmental.

The instructors I like best are the ones who help gently, who are comfortable with letting me be who I am that day. The pushing can come from introduction of more difficult poses or alternatives within a pose. I can then decide for myself where my body is and how far I can push that day.

I too have had similar experiences. One of the regular teachers at the yoga studio I attend would make drill instructors in the marines look soft. I know that he has put a lot of potential yogis off the whole idea as he loudly exhorts us to remove our ego from our practice. Sometimes it's not the ego that flees in terror from him though, it's the yogi themselves.

Interestingly, he has a regular following. I notice the same few show up for his every class (although how many are like me, and attend simply because of the time of the class - I don't know). So I suppose it's possible that some people like that kind of forthright style. After I got over the initial shock of his style, I've found that there are wee gems hidden in each class, but you have to perservere through an awful lot of pain to get there.

Since it's an adult class, we're all emotionally developed enough to know what we want out of the class, and work alongside the abrasive nature of the teacher. But I can't imagine he'd be very succesful in front of a group of teenagers. Such an obvious authority figure is bound to press switches that should be left alone in those hormonal subjects. They're tricky subjects and I'm dying to know what you eventually decide to do about it.

I know how you feel Erica. I struggle with this balance in my classes too. I guess it's good to remember everyone needs something different and to make sure you change it up once in awhile. Remind people to keep challenging themselves in their own way. Good Luck!

As a new instructor I find the best to encourage students to push themselves is to fire their own volition. Don't stand there and bark orders and demands, back them up to a point of good alignment, then encourage them to push that adjustment to their fullest. It is the student that will push themselves, be a guide not a drill Sargent!

(Erica, I think I was picking up so much on your energy, that I was trying to address these kinds of thoughts all-in-one in my responses to your blog about the word 'butt.')
I used to go through that, TOO!
Again, because of my teaching venue (continuing ed.), I have had to gulp down some of my hopes to get all of my students to embrace yoga in its true form. If I didn't, I wouldn't be wanted in that venue anymore and I really, truly am in LOVE with providing great yoga at a rate the mass public can afford.
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The way I worked through it - you have to see for yourself that your students do not walk in the door 'Your Students.' They don't come in ready to receive everything that you have to offer.
Ain't that a bummer? I really wish they were all there to receive! I love to serve others and I would really love to dive into all the facets of yoga with every single one of them!
Reach those that are ready to receive what you have to offer.
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I find that they will weed themselves in & out of your classroom. Those that stay are 'your students' for a good, long time. They match well with your personality, and they enjoy your energy. They appreciate the way you approach their practice.
You cannot become successful if you constantly cater to those that are not well-matched with you in the first place. The success you create is not just for your professional development, either! Your success is in showing a group of people the way to live consciously through a practice of yoga with you as their guide. Your success is NOT measured by how much people like you.
Also, you can help new students understand what to expect from being new to a new class (this being your class in this case). They need to be given THE TALK:
"Not all yoga is alike; not all yoga teachers are alike. You may not be aware of this yet, but almost everyone comes naturally into this class with expectations and some of you will not be pleased. It is the nature of us as human beings and I will not be able to accommodate the needs and expectations of every one of you. (Explain how different Iyengar is from Ashtanga, Kundalini vs. Jivamukti, et cetera. Then explain a bit about your experience as a student and teacher so they get that first glance at what your style is like.) If you are brand new to yoga, many will make the decision to TRY yoga. That is probably not going to work out very well for you. You cannot experience positive effects in your health, your weight, or your stress by attending one yoga class a week. One class a week gives you only a taste - that is fine if that is what you want - but if you came because your doctor recommended you do yoga or you've heard that yoga improves your health, brings stress reduction, or can help you get in shape, you are going to need to practice more than once a week... more than twice a week, even. Having said that, if you are planning to try it at once a week, then I hope I can serve you the best yoga and I hope that you enjoy this experience."

I put in all that stuff about doing yoga once a week because generally the students that want to not listen to the teacher are not in the class for the full measure of the program. They're typically the ones that will pick & choose things in a way that is ignorant of recommendations. They will also be difficult to maintain as students because they can be turned off so easily. Do not waste your wonderful desire to give your best to others on people that are not ready to receive and appreciate you.