As a new yoga teacher, it can feel overwhelming as you begin to teach your own classes. You could be experiencing a variety of emotions across the spectrum as you enter into this new chapter of your life. Teaching yoga, and teaching in general, could be brand new for you. New things tend to push us outside of our comfort zone and with that could come a level of discomfort, learning, and growth. What follows though could be a fulfilling career sharing a practice you love. Here are some tips as you navigate through the beginning stages of being a yoga teacher.
1. Keep tending to your own practice
This is the first tip because it is so important. Your learning does not stop after a yoga teacher training. As humans we are meant to continue to evolve, which means that our level of growth and therefore our teachings should evolve and deepen as we do the same.
Yoga is meant to guide us through the layers of our being to realize the true self. If we do not continue through the study, practice, and application of yoga (all 8 limbs) our teachings will become monotonous.
Furthermore, our well of inspiration will most likely dry up. Tending to your own practice both with teachers, coaches, mentors, peers, and on your own will keep the learning, growing, and giving going.
If you want tips on how to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as a Yoga Teacher or How to Diversify Your Offerings as a Yoga Teacher, check out these two articles!
2. Take the sub opportunities
Do not shy away from sub opportunities. Most new yoga teachers start by subbing classes. This is helpful for you as the teacher to practice what you learned in your 200 hour yoga teacher training and to connect with the studioās clientele.
Subbing a yoga class for another teacher is also beneficial for the owners/managers of the studio to see if you are a good fit for their community as a teacher. It’s an opportunity for the clients of that particular studio to begin to get to know you (you will need people to attend your class once you are a regular teacher on the schedule).
While subbing a class can bring up a plethora of emotions, it generally cannot be avoided. It is helpful and actually necessary for all parties involved. It helps you gain your footing as a credible teacher and grow the community you wish to teach in, whether that’s online or in person.
3. Continue to practice your teaching skills
Just because you have finished your teacher training does not mean that you should stop teaching to your family, friends, co-workers and anyone who you have the ability to teach!
Teaching is a skill like any other, and when you stop practicing, that skill can be forgotten. I recommend trying to find sub opportunities as soon as you’ve finished your ytt if you intend to seriously teach. This might not happen right away, so it’s integral to continue being dedicated to your own practice. Even if you are actively subbing classes, it may not be frequent or consistent enough, so continuing to practice is a must!
4. Remind yourself that itās okay to make mistakes
Youāre not perfect and that is okay! In fact, it may just be the very reason the right people find you.
The first few times you teach a yoga class, you might forget part of your sequence, you might mess up the rights and lefts, your music may stop in the middle of class, or you may not say a cue as clearly as you wished. Remind yourself that it is all part of the process. Every single person makes mistakes in all fields. I can assure you that most yoga teachers have done all of the above, even those with experience. Mistakes are how we learn and in fact, how we get better.
5. Accept that you are a beginner
It could be easy to wish that you were years down the line having gotten over the nerves of being a new teacher with a flourishing clientele and career. But wishing you were somewhere else other than where you are now is a waste of time. You can envision it and accept that you are a beginner. Why not choose to be grounded in where you are right now? Stepping into this and owning this will help you teach from an authentic place at any point in your teaching career.
Everyone is a beginner at some point, and if you’re lucky you get to continue being a beginner at things all throughout your life. This simple fact is what allows you to stay humble as you move along your teaching journey. As you continue to teach classes with authenticity and realize you are just starting out, your classes will feel genuine and attract the people meant for you.
These 5 tips will help you teach with ease!
If you can remember all of these tips as you step into yoga teaching, you can almost guarantee a flourishing career and passion. Teaching yoga is truly a gift and the practice finds the right people with their heart in it. Make sure your students can always feel your presence and as long as you lead classes being your authentic self you can never go wrong.
Good luck!
