5 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR NEW YOGA TEACHERS
“I remember all too well what it was like to come out of my first yoga teacher training. I was elated and excited but also very scared and unsure of my ability as a teacher.
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I was so happy to land my first class and to start teaching on a regular basis. I was on my way to creating the career I had dreamed of, however this came with its own challenges.
I said YES to every opportunity that landed in my lap. I loved teaching so much I thought to myself often that I would do this even if I wasn’t being paid, but teaching so much eventually resulted in burnout and a loss of some passion for the practice itself.
I’ve learnt the lessons the hard way and I’m going to share them with you so you dont have to make the same mistakes I did.
Its important to find balance and a way to keep the momentum going from your teacher training so you can enjoy the journey you are about to embark on to the max!
These are some tips I wish I had known back then…
1. TEACH, TEACH, TEACH
When you come out of your YTT it can be really easy to put off teaching due to lack of time or self doubt. Like anything in life we all start at the beginning and we have to put in the hours to become skilled and good at something. Teach anyone and everyone that you can. Even if it’s just teaching friends or teaching part of a sequence. The more time you put in the more you’ll get back and the more comfortable you will be teaching. Like any skill in life if you want to become a master at something you need to put in the hours and dedication.
2. STRENGTHEN YOUR HOME PRACTICE AND MAKE TIME FOR SELF CARE
With this first point of needing to teach as much as possible in mind, you must support this with a strong foundation of self care and making space for your own practice. As you start to teach it can be very easy to let your own practice slip to the way side, thinking that you don’t have the time or the energy. It is important to cultivate a strong routine right from the start and a connection to your own practice. Leave time in your diary for white space so you can relax. Something as simple as relaxing and reading a book, taking a bath or even taking yourself out to something that is un yoga related, something that inspires you. Everything that you add into your life will in turn create opportunity to colour your teachings. When you teach yoga you are giving out a lot of energy. You need to make sure that your cup is full to be able to give back fully and whole heartedly.
Your own self practice can be a space to cultivate creativity for your classes: sequencing, dharma talk and the words you are using to cue your classes. You will have the opportunity to feel in your body what you are teaching. This will help you connect on a deeper level to your students to what you are offering them. Try also to keep a journal with you when you are practicing to jot down anything that comes to mind as you move through your practice or for post reflection.
Here are 3 ways that you could potentially practice at home…
Practice with online yoga sites. I use www.movementformodernlife.com or www.alomoves.com. There are so many wonderful teachers online and their teachings can be a source for inspiration.
Practice the sequence that you’re currently teaching or working on.
Put on some inspiring music and move creatively on the mat. Move in a way that makes you feel good, in a way that your body wants to move.
3. CREATE AND BUILD A NETWORK
Start to connect with your local studios and teachers. If you have a studio in mind that you would like to teach at, go and get involved in what they are offering. A lot of studios offer karma yogi roles, in which you will help around the studio in exchange for free classes. Sometimes they even offer karma yogi classes so you could ask to be a karma yoga teacher. It is a great way to get your foot in the door.
Connect and make friends with your favourite teachers. Ask if you can assist them in some way or if you can cover for them or assist their classes. If you are helping them out they will be more likely to ask you to cover or even assist on one of their retreats. This is something I have done just recently done with a few of the teachers that have been helping me out or studying with me.
4. FINDING YOUR WHY
If you want to teach yoga, you will need to love teaching. Practicing yoga and teaching yoga are two very different things and teaching yoga comes along with a lot of other things. You will need to manage your time and energy efficiently, run a small business ie marketing, finance, event planning to name a few. It is not an easy path. With that said it is a very rewarding and fulfilling career, if you have the passion and drive behind it. So finding your why, where your passion lies is a good place to start and a great place to come back to when things are a little more challenging.
5. FIND A MENTOR
Teaching yoga means you will be surrounded by students and other yoga teachers on a regular basis, but even so this job can tend to feel quite lonely at times and with out support, especially when you are just starting out. Everybody has their ups and downs and it is helpful when you have those moments to know that you are not alone.
In my career so far I have had many different mentors. Formal and informal and this support has been worth its weight in gold to me. One of the important ways to find focus, grounding and inspiration is to cultivate professional relationships with more experienced teachers. Receiving support and guidance from a mentor can help you to stay connected to the passion that you have now for the practice and for your teaching and to cultivate and evolve that into your teaching for many years to come.
If you are a new teacher and you are finding it challenging, I want to wish you so much strength and heartfelt success. This is a journey of self discovery and self development if you allow it to be. It can be life changing in the best way.
If you are just starting your teaching career and you are feeling you are in need of some extra support head over to check out the EVOLVE TOGETHER Group Mentoring Programme. This is a programme that I am passionate about. I feel this kind of support is lacking but really needed in our industry. Also make sure you join our facebook community ‘The Lab Space’ where we will be sharing ideas, experiences & knowledge all together, helping each other grow.