7 Tips for Yoga Teachers

If you teach yoga to others, or if you would like to teach yoga abilities, there are some things you need to remember. I had the opportunity to learn and teach yoga to many people, and now I would like to share some tips with those of you, who think about teaching yoga to others.

When Should You Start Teaching?

Before we move to the tips themselves, we need to discuss when you should actually start teaching others? It’s really hard to say, but having at least few years of experience in the subject is OK. The problem with teaching is that when you teach, you need to know your own limits. For example, don’t try to teach something you never tried for yourself. Don’t try to teach linking when you don’t know that links need to be cut. Teach things that you know, things that has been confirmed by your own teachers.

7 Tips for Yoga Teachers

1. Be patient – don’t think that your student will learn everything within few days or weeks. For some, it will take many months of even years to learn yoga. Be patient, and teach them slowly – nothing will be accomplished with rush, but rather with slow yet steady progress. Have fun. If you’re not having a good time I can guarantee your students aren’t either.

2. Teach what you have practiced with – what I’m teaching on energy yoga is something I have tested on myself, that’s why I understand how things work, and how others can learn them. It doesn’t mean I practice each and every single thing I teach – most of them I have learned, experimented with, understood and move further, today I don’t practice them, but focusing on things I really find interesting for myself. In your teachings, find something unique to offer your students.

Build relationships but know the limits – people love to hear their name, do ask how their day was, what they do for a living. Take care of your students and also make the student feel loved and important.

3. Teach what they need to know, not what you like – personally, I like yoga with meditation and different forms of yoga energy balancing. My student might like to learn yoga philosophies. But I will teach him none – rather, I will teach him about yoga postures and mindfulness, from there we will be able to move further. But at first, don’t try to teach the person what he or she wants to know, do your homework, research the person, find out what he or she can already do and what he or she already know. With that knowledge, you will know what gaps you need to fill. Always teach the basics, before moving to more advanced stuff.

4 Don’t teach everyone – you must know the background of the students. Select the people who are sincere.

5. Know your students – knowing yourself is first step to become a teacher, but knowing your student is first step to successfully teaching your student. There are various types of people who want to become yoga teachers. Some want to become powerful in yoga postures , some are already yogi and just need some practice, others will start from scratches. Knowing what kind of student you’re dealing with will help you understand the needs of him or her. And because of this, you will be able to adjust your training to fit the person. You will teach different things to people who are already familiar with yoga terminology, and other things to people who think that yoga meditation are some kind of superheroes. Do not sell yourself short. You are wonderful.

6. Be kind, but don’t be a parent – don’t be harsh – smile and be kind, but don’t try to be someone else than teacher. Especially, don’t try to be a parent. And most important, don’t give your student money. You’re not some kind of emergency fund, you’re yoga teacher. Keep this in mind, and teach. Do not stop learning the moment you become certified. The journey has just begun. Take workshops, volunteer your services, and continue your education; always.

7. Recommend a yoga guidebook – you don’t want to be approached by your student all over the time, right? It’s good to recommend your student some good yoga guidebooks, that will teach things he or she needs to know. This way, you will act as additional supporter to ones yoga development. Trust me, it will save your precious time.