Once you get your teaching certification, you can never go back to being, “just a student.”
By that I mean, when you do get a chance to go to a yoga class to just be on your mat and enjoy, you will have a difficult time switching out of the teacher mindset. Thoughts of, “What is that song? I need to add that to a playlist! Oh, I really loved that transition she did! I need to remember that ... . But that being said, this gives us the opportunity to practice mindfulness and being present.
To be a good instructor, you have to be a student first. Keep studying, keep learning, and keep practicing, share from your own practice with a humble heart and in a spirit of service.
You have to love your students….It truly is all about them. Be mindful, perceptive, and sensitive to the needs of your students….how are they feeling today? I remember having a sequence all planned out and as I started visiting with a new student before class, she told me this was her first yoga class after having hip surgery a few months prior. So much for the hip opening sequence I had planned! So we are flexible as yoga teachers, literally and figuratively.
Your students will inspire you. Seeing their faces as they are concentrating on a pose or the delight in their eyes when they surprise themselves and are able to accomplish more than they thought possible that day…these are some of the blessings we have as teachers of the practice.
Teaching yoga is a very vulnerable thing to do, so be vulnerable! Tell silly jokes, laugh at yourself, if you make a mistake, just move on. You can’t take yourself or yoga too seriously, because life is heavy enough and I think one of the reasons students come to class is to relieve stress is to have some light heartedness in class.
In my teacher training, our instructor would say, “Find your voice.” I was never really sure what that meant but I feel after some years of teaching, it is finally resonating with me. In order to find your voice, you have to use your voice. It’s okay to maybe mimic a thing or two that you like from a specific class you attended or a favorite teacher, but be you on your mat because no one else does that better.
Then we accept the fact that it is impossible for us to be everybody’s favorite yoga teacher and that your style is not going to resonate with everyone. Honestly, I tend to be a people pleaser, and this is one of the biggest learning curves I’ve had in teaching. I’m gradually learning to let go of this.
Know the “why” to your wanting to teach yoga! This has been huge for me because when the negative thoughts come and they will, Thoughts like, “why did I say that?” “I shouldn’t have cued the pose like that,” “I’m pretty sure she’ll never come back to class,” … My “why” helps in those times of questioning and that is, “I’m just here because I want to help people and use the gifts God has given me to serve others.“
It’s normal to get a little nervous before teaching a class especially if you are teaching to a large group, but remind yourself yoga is just breath and movement. If we get stressed leading and doing yoga, it’s counter-productive! One of my favorite sayings regarding fear: Fear is a Chihuahua that barks like a Doberman.
I recommend having that one yoga class always in the back of your mind, so that if an opportunity suddenly comes up to teach, you’ll be ready and feel comfortable filling in.
With time and practice, preparing for a class has become much less of a process. When I first started teaching, I would spend hours writing out a sequence and practicing it over and over on my mat before a class. Now, I can literally plan a class in my head on the way to class (although that’s not optimal). As you get more familiar with the poses, you can also “adlib,” or go with the flow, and fill in with various poses.
This practice is a continual learning process, so be kind to yourself and give yourself grace. Your students will appreciate the knowledge you have and the time you give to the practice and to them.
I’ll end in the same place we began: every teacher is a student and every student is a teacher.
Written by Renae Brobst
E-RYT 200, 500 YACEP
It Is Well Yoga, LLC.
Renae Brobst has been teaching yoga for over ten years now at local studios and gyms. The practice has been so beneficial to her mentally as well as physically. The yoga mat is one of the places she feels connected to God.
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