Substitute Teachers; Is it ok not to inform your students in advance?

Growing up, having a substitute teacher at school meant a break from routine, a day of fun and if we were behaving badly, some practical jokes.  As kids we looked forward to these unexpected interruptions. As an adult, I have a harder time adapting. As a Yogi who is as dedicated to my practice as I am to my teachers, you can imagine the disappointment I feel when I arrive for class and a substitute teacher walks into the room, especially if I’ve cleared my schedule to spend some much needed time on my mat.  

While yogic philosophy teaches us to open our minds and accept change, I just have not yet achieved this state of control when it comes to substitutes. At the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat, why can’t studios just let us know when there is going to be a substitute? This way I can decide for myself if I want to take the class or wait until my regular teacher is available. Many studios across the country have computer software thatupdates the studio website when regularly scheduled teachers will not be in class. So why don’t all studios subscribe to this technology?

Truth be told, I almost always enjoy the substitute after I get past my initial irritation and quiet the spoiled brat in my mind. Last minute substitutions aside, all studios should understand that a way to keep Yogi’s coming back every week is to provide this substitute information so that we can settle into our practice without resistance.