With more than 1,100 teachers in just the South Puget Sound area alone registered with Yoga Alliance (and no doubt many more teaching who are not in the YA directory), where does one begin to figure out which teacher to choose? Not all yoga teachers are created equal. Connecting with the right teacher can make all the difference.
Where do you even look? What questions should you ask them? Well, it depends. Are you new on the yoga scene? Been practicing for a while-ish, but have not found the right connection that keeps you consistently practicing? Started teaching your own yoga classes and now you are missing the feeling of just being a student again? Read on for some things I have learned along the way.
First, it is helpful to consider which style of yoga speaks to you. This step is important if you are new to the yoga scene. This step is vital if you have been practicing inconsistently because it could be that a switch up of styles might be half the equation to a more consistent practice. And this step is essential if you are a teacher who needs to refill your own cup and get your own practice off the shelf (because yes, that is seemingly inevitably where we all put our own practices shortly after we start teaching).
And then…
Just beginning your yoga practice?
Plan to check out at least three nearby yoga studios. Not all at once! Think of it more like a two or three month long recon mission. Take advantage of the new client special offers each studio may have – typically anything from two to four weeks of unlimited classes for a heavily discounted price. I mean really, take advantage, and get to every class you can muster the energy for. Check out all the teachers and options the studio has to offer. Make note of what you liked and what you didn’t care for. Then, move on to the next studio. Check out all three and then decide if any of the studios had one or two teachers you would like to learn more from.
Progress on the path of yoga means different things for different people… Yoga serves the individual.
T.K.V. Desikachar in The Heart of Yoga
What you are looking for:
- teachers who are highly approachable
- those who create the atmosphere you need – be it calm, comforting and grounding, or challenging, encouraging and energizing
- teachers with experience or expertise in the area you need – whether it is injury rehab, or coping with anxiety, counteracting stress, or building strength
- those who have training and education emphasizing areas you want to learn, which could be related to a particular linage or style, or maybe just a particular element of yoga – asana(posture)-focussed versus meditation-focussed, for example.
A note on cost: I highly recommend basing your decision primarily on which studios had the teacher(s) that seemed the best fit to you, and let the overall pricing comparison be a distant second. Don’t short change yourself – no pun intended, really – and miss out on an opportunity to learn from a teacher that suites you because you got hung up on price tags. Besides, most studios pricing differences seem negligible – at least in my neck of the woods.
Once you have elected your one or two teachers, attend their classes weekly for a few months. (Many studios require a 3-month minimum commitment anyway, so go for it and commit to giving it a real go!) Over that time, be sure to give the teacher(s) feedback and ask questions after class. As a teacher I can say that the more folks reach out and chat with me – even if only for three or four minutes after a class – the better I can cater the class to them the next week. Some folks have amazing poker faces during practice, and teachers are no mind readers! Remember that the best learning happens when the yoga offered is what you need, when you need, and how you need. And most teachers worth their salt – and your time – would love to connect more so they can craft their teaching to really serve you (although usually that connecting is outside the yoga room so it does not steal attention and focus from the rest of the class).
Does your current practice need an update?
Check out the Yoga Alliance directory of registered teachers, and find an E-RYT 200 or E-RYT 500 teacher near you. Those in the registry with these designations have had a number of years and many hours of teaching experience. Time and experience gives teachers an opportunity to refine the art and craft of teaching, which could make these teachers more likely to have classes that can get you over your plateau.
Disclaimer: Not every teacher in the YA directory has the same caliber of training or depth and breadth of experience. Not all yoga teachers are created equal. And not every superb teacher is actually registered (as it is a service teachers have to pay for) with YA. But it is at least a start when sifting through a haystack.
Next, check under the hood and kick the tires. Read up on the teacher’s bio, history of training, experience, areas of focus, etc. And then try out one whose story you are drawn to, and attend their classes for 30-90 days. I suggest 30+ days because we often have to attend at least three or four classes to even begin to get a real sense of anyone’s teaching methodologies and style. But this is also a nice timeframe to be sure you have found someone who seems approachable to you, because the better you and your new teacher can relate, the more likely they can help you settle into a yoga practice with consistent, steady growth.
We need somebody who can hold a mirror in front of us… This personal connection cannot be replaced by books or videos. There must be a relationship, a real relationship, one that is based on trust.
T.K.V. Desikachar in The Heart of Yoga
Are you teaching yoga and put your own practice on the shelf?
Continuing education is vital to our success as teachers; however, the periodic online course or workshop is insufficient to fill the gap left when we are missing a consistent personal practice. While some teachers are impressive in their dedication to a daily practice balancing out their teaching schedule, many of us – myself included – are not so gifted at the personal practice versus teaching schedule balancing act. In fact, I sometimes have felt like Mayor of the Put-Your-Practice-to-the-Side-Just-to-Get-Through-This-Month’s-Hectic-Schedule Town. So, please believe me when I wholeheartedly say, a mentor to hold you accountable and challenge your constant personal yoga growth is essential!
There is a reason yoga teachers were originally the product of (year’s long) study within a student-guru relationship. It is the most effective way to really experience yoga that is transformative, and to learn yogic concepts and principles by heart. While the widely available 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour teacher training model is nicely packaged to fit into our busy lifestyles (and more instantly gratifying than dedicating years to training with a guru), it still leaves this gap to be filled. So, we each have to do a little soul searching to discern what aspect we would like to study and experience more, and then seek out a senior teacher to mentor us in that area.
In education the first requirement is the teacher, the second is the student. What should happen between them is learning. How it should happen is through the constant teaching of that which will be relevant to the student. That is education.
T.K.V. Desikachar referring to the Upanishads
You might tap into a teacher from your previous 200-/300-/500-hour training, or search through the Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Providers in your area, or happen upon a senior teacher in your larger yoga circle. Whomever you tap into, be very particular, because time is precious for both of you, about what you hope to gain from mentorship:
- Which of the eight limbs do you wish to know by heart? In which aspect of yoga do you feel less confident or less experienced?
- How much time can you commit to meeting – in person or virtually – with your mentor and how frequently?
We might also look for mentors to help us navigate the craft of teaching, developing our methodologies, or the business-side of being a yoga teacher; however, here, I am honing in on the actual study and practice of making sure we tend our own personal practice. Not all yoga teachers are created equal – nor are we meant to be – but a teacher is only as helpful to their students as they are experienced in their own practice. So, find your mentor connection, and practice on!