THIS MISTAKE IS HOLDING YOU BACK....STRATEGIES TO GET RID OF THE DREADED YOGA TEACHER VOICE
Are you making this mistake? 🧐
As a yoga teacher mentor and coach, I've had the privilege of working with countless yoga teachers on their journey towards teaching from an authentic place and building impactful teaching careers. One of the most common stumbling blocks I've observed is what I love to call the "dreaded yoga teacher voice." You might be wondering, what exactly is this voice, and how is it affecting your teaching? Let's dive right in.
The Yoga Teacher Voice: A Mask for Authenticity
Picture this: You step into a yoga class, and your instructor starts speaking in a way that feels rehearsed, scripted, or simply not like themselves. That, my friends, is the dreaded yoga teacher voice. It's that voice we sometimes put on, consciously or unconsciously, because we think it's what a yoga teacher should sound like.
It might manifest as a soft, soothing monotone or a forced sing-song cadence. Regardless of its form, this voice is often a mask, a coping mechanism for the nerves or a lack of confidence that can plague even the most experienced teachers. However, it comes at a cost—it prevents your true personality and teaching style from shining through.
Breaking Free from the Yoga Teacher Voice
Now that we've identified that this is perhaps happening, let's explore two powerful strategies to help you overcome it, to be able to show up and teach more authentically, to be more yourself:
1. Record Yourself: Uncover Your True Voice
One of the most effective ways to break free from the yoga teacher voice is to record yourself during a class. It might feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but trust me, it's a game-changer. Recording allows you to listen objectively to your own teaching. Pay attention to your tone, cadence, and overall delivery. Listen, are you using the dreaded yoga teacher voice?
The first step is to recognise and by becoming aware of it, you can consciously work on changing how you deliver your instructions. Try experimenting with different tones, volumes, and expressions until you find a style that feels genuinely you. Remember, authenticity in teaching means being true to yourself, not conforming to an idealised image (or sound) of what a yoga teacher should be.
2. Cultivate Conversation with Your Students: Connect on a Deeper Level
The second approach to shedding the yoga teacher voice is to cultivate a genuine conversation with your students. Instead of getting lost in your head, focus on what's right in front of you—the unique individuals in your class.
Teach to the students who are on their mats, seeking guidance and connection. They may not be speaking back to you verbally but they are speaking to you in many other ways. Their breath, their body language, the way they are moving. Connect with their energy and emotions. When you teach in this way you are teaching on a connection level. You get out of your head and into the heart. This makes it a lot easier to let go of theneed for a rehearsed voice, and your teaching becomes a heartfelt exchange.
Authenticity Leads to Impact
In the journey of becoming a more authentic yoga teacher, shedding the dreaded yoga teacher voice is a significant milestone. Authentic teaching is about being real, vulnerable, and relatable to your students. It's about sharing your unique perspective, experiences, and insights and really connecting to your students in a conscious way.
So, which of these two strategies are you going to try first? Are you ready to record yourself & uncover your true voice & commit to cultivating heartfelt conversations with your students? 🙌🚀
Remember, authenticity in teaching yoga is not just a gift to yourself but also to your students. When you teach authentically, you empower your students to do the same, creating a ripple effect of authenticity and transformation in your yoga community. So, embrace your true self, let go of the yoga teacher voice, and watch your teaching soar to new heights. 🧘♀️🌟