Learn more than teach
As I come close to hitting the year mark of teaching, I wanted to remind you that teachers learn constantly too. My learning didn’t stop when my course did, instead a whole new world opened up where my role and approach to yoga shifted to a professional capacity (that I happen to be super passionate about!). Taking on classes, building client bases, their trust and ever grateful for feedback and requests, this first year has been packed full of learnings that I don’t want to skip pass.
People always want to feel good. Relative to the style you’re offering, people want to feel whatever ‘good’ means to them. Challenged? Nourished? Rested? Every single student comes to class looking for something that tips the balance into good, so if in doubt, offer the space for them to get to that place.
Repetition isn’t a bad thing. In fact, weaving regular patterns and poses into a creative mix strengthens your teaching skill in that area, while you can build and modify.
Your people find you. Keep teaching the way that lights you up, and the people who will be drawn to your style, offering and overall vibes will emerge.
It’s a conversation, not a performance. Being technically on point the whole time isn’t just impossible, but unecessary. Students want you to engage, encourage and embrace them, so worry less about it being a rigidly set sequence and go more with the flow of the room.
Because 5 is a good number to end on, remember why you first booked a yoga class, and regularly go back to that memory when you meet students that are early on in that journey. Remember how it felt to be nurtured, seen and guided, and be that same light that kept you coming back.