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Confidence to Teach Yoga

(31 posts) (24 voices)

Started 7 years ago by Traci
Latest reply from laparadis

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Traci
Member

Hi everyone.

I have a confidence issue. I'm trying to get into teaching yoga and everytime I see someone who teaches, they seem to be in the best shape. I know yoga can do that to you but I'm just not built like that anymore.

I am in my 40's, have had three kids and am in good shape but let's face it people, the abs aren't as flat as they used to be. Anyways, I just feel like I should be in perfect shape everywhere for people to take me seriously. What do you think???? Any suggestions.

Thanks all,

Traci

Posted 7 years ago #
Don Briskin
Member

Traci - I wouldn't view this as an issue and I would certainly encourage you to move forward with your interest in teaching. Perhaps focus on developing your expertise in teaching and gaining yoga knowledge. In fact, I think students may feel even better and less intimidated about beginning yoga practice with a teacher that is "normal" in terms of their body. Too often, I think we are presented with images of yoga practitioners with fashion model bodies doing asanas that most yoga practitioners would never be able to do. This has certainly been a point of discussion in the letters to the editor section of Yoga Journal.

Namaste

-Don

Posted 7 years ago #
Jeanné
User

Traci,

I agree with Don. Yoga is not about having the perfect body. I am also in my 40's and although I work out and do yoga, there is no way I look like some of the 20 year olds you see in Yoga Journal. When I teach, I try to focus on the entire mind-body asset of the experience. When holding a pose, I ask students to feel how certain parts of their bodies respond. It is about being centered and mentally strong more than physically perfect. I do not know which part of the US you live in, but my yoga teachers have been average middle aged folks (like me) and feel great teaching. Eat well, practice your yoga and focus on the strength of your body. I am sure you are a compassionate and knowledgable teacher - convey that to your students with each class and your confidence will build! Fake it, 'til you make it, girl!

Namaste,

Jeann

Posted 7 years ago #
diedwardo7
Member

The nature of yoga is union with the divine.

The teacher B.K.S. Iyengar has a look that I so admire and hope to achieve on day. He is 86 and has supple body and buddha stomach.

I tell my students that I have always had a buddha stomach...I am 52...in good shape with the body of an older former dancer turned yogin, teach yoga, and LOVE IT!
Maryann

Posted 7 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

It is easy to teach Yoga, but it is not easy to find dedicated students who are serious about pushing themselves beyond their limitations. Many Europeans and Americans just want to sit around and make excuses to get fat.

I am a dancer and former competitive gymnast. I can stand on one hand while doing lotus. There is no excuse for a yoga teacher to be out of shape. Yoga teachers should be an example to all of ultimate physical fitness.

Where are the pictures on this site of yoga teachers performing ultimate feats of balance and strength. It seems that you want to sit around smelling incense and chanting instead of working. Show me pictures of Yoga postures you can do and stop talking about it.

Posted 6 years ago #
diedwardo7
Member

Yoga is a mental discipline that is for ALL people. Awareness of body shape is insignificant to the true meaning of yoga. Maybe you might visit the Himalayan institute to find out more.

Posted 6 years ago #
Paul
Key Master

Namaskar Twenty girl,

You have an interesting view of what Yoga is, and what it should not be. Did you know that there are many styles of Yoga and Hatha Yoga is just one of them? Below are a few questions, which will help the rest of us to understand your position a little better.

Do you feel that Yoga is a competitive physical activity only? Have you ever had an injury or ailment? Was compassion or teacher's ethics covered in your Yoga teacher training course? How do you work with a new Yoga student, who is middle-aged or older?

You are correct about obesity being a problem, but did you realize it is a global problem in developing countries, including India?

Shanti,

Paul

P.S. Very good answer Maryann.

Posted 6 years ago #
Yogi
Member

Greetings,

Some of you are down right, saintly.

Many of you are so diplomatic, but you may have guessed: I am not a diplomat.

I guess we are going full spectrum, with Yoga teacher confidence issues, to the heart of arrogance.

My worry is 20 girl will hurt her students and make front page news.

Will someone convince 20 girl to take a Yoga anatomy course?

This child is going to make headline news and give Yoga a bad name.

Namaste,

Posted 6 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

My Guru is Bikram. Our Yoga teacher training is very very extensive. We completely understand anatomy. There is no need for compassion toward Yoga students. Yoga students get very thorough explanations of what to do in a Bikram class. Yoga students are tested in the fire and those who can make the grade become Bikram Yoga students. The rest can go to other Yoga centers and whine about their fat bodies while chanting, singing, smelling incense and meditating.

Paul Jerard has written that Yoga is an evolution in progress. I totally agree, but Bikram is the superior style to all. Just look around at the fat Yogacharyas. Are these your heroes? You are in high praise of fat Yoga Gurus? Look at what you will become.

Go to one Bikram Yoga class and you will have an awakening. Bikram is not for everyone and many people cannot make the cut. You must first be tested in the fires of a genuine Bikram Yoga studio.

Posted 6 years ago #
Priyah
User

Pranam Twenty Girl,

Thank you for identifying, your school of thought. So, you believe the motto of your Guru is "Survival of the most physically fit and the rest be damned."

You have much to learn and it may hit you hard when you experience a set back in life. One day you are a 20 year old Yogini and suddenly you have an auto accident or wake up with serious pain for no reason at all.

You have a God given gift, if your body performs as you say, but you don't see it. Paul has an Anatomy course for Yoga teachers. You might seriously think about it.

Do not take your gift for granted, but do educate yourself as to why others do not have your gift. Otherwise, your liability insurance may face the "test of fire." Yoga students who have been abused, will have no remorse, when filing a lawsuit against a Yoga instructor who runs a Spartan style class.

You see, everything you have said is also stated in the US Marine Corps recruiting commercials. "The few, the proud, the..........." They also display their sharp dress sword with beautiful stainless steel. The Marines are "forged in fire."

You are proud and this is good, but you need to tone it down a bit. Do not continue to speak of superior or inferior in regard to Yoga styles or Gurus.

Om Shanti,

Priyah

Posted 6 years ago #
Tomako
User

Namaste Everyone,

So, is anyone still feelining like they are unconfident? Both sides of the confidence issue for Yoga teachers have been discussed. If anyone is feeling unconfident about teaching Yoga, please let us know.

Posted 6 years ago #
JopisYoti
Member

Namaskar Twenty Girl,

It is good that you are so honest and you enjoy Tapas. This is admirable, but deep in your heart you must have regret when you push your Yoga student into pain. What Yoga you are teaching is really competitive gymanstics and dance. You seem to scoff at mantra, Japa, chimes, and bhakti. But karma will always come around for all of us. We will reap what we sow.

You should sing the following 108 times per day.

"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare"

This will keep your heart pure.

Do good things for people and forget about judging others.

When your mind is full of judgement, there is no room for learning about all of the good things in life.

Om Soham
Om Tat Tvam Asi
Om Aham Brahma Asmi

Posted 6 years ago #
Tomako
User

Namaste Jopis,

Thank you, but I think it will be a big transition for anyone who is so focused on physical prowess to suddenly find the value of Japa.

I know your heart is in the right place and some day the mental and spiritual aspects of Yoga will be appreciated by the physically minded, but aging does have a lot to do with it.

Shanti,

Tomako

Posted 6 years ago #
Priyah
User

Namaste to All,

You are starting to date yourself Tommi. Yet, what you say is true. Aging does humble us. I remember a Yoga teacher workshop at Aura, when it was in North Providence: Yoga is for everyone and even the young can have trauma, ailments, or misfortune.

Paul had 3 students with arthritis. all were former gymnasts, and all we in their twenties. It's nice to be confident, but education makes us realize how lucky we are.

Jai,

Priyah

Posted 6 years ago #
zoargypsy
Member

Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on remembering the sequence of a whole class without forgeting what comes next while teaching. My biggest fear is that I will get up there and not even remember where to start. It's in my head, just has a hard time coming out right sometimes. Thanks.

Posted 6 years ago #
Paul
Key Master

Namaskar Zoargypsy,

It is much easier for a Yoga teacher to set up sequencing in a Yoga class that holds postures than to get the sequence down for Vinyasa Yoga or similar styles.

If you are referring to a class that holds postures, set up your postures in blocks such as:

Opening Salutation (OM)

Bastrika Pranayama

Kapalhabati Pranayama

Warm ups

Ujjayi Pranayama

Sun Salutations

Standing Series

Cat Series

Bhramari Pranayama

Seated Series

Prone Series

Supine Series

Anulom Viloma Pranayama

Meditation

Udgeeth Pranyama with Om mantra

Closing Salutation

This is just one of thousands of examples, but when you design series always counter pose for the spine. Always integrate Pranayama into your Yoga class.

Namaste,

Paul

Posted 6 years ago #
nandakishor
Member

Namaskar Paulji, Yogis, and Yoginis,

I hope this is the right thread, it looks like this is the right place. Recently one of my past yoga teachers has assaulted me verbally behind my back. I teach children and she said that due to my lack of flexibility, I will never be a good teacher for adults. It hurt me to hear this because I love this teacher. My husband was hurt because we had her over our house a few times and thought she was my friend. Without turning this into a big soap opera with a flood of tears, I have had self-esteem issues all my life, but feel that I need some advice before losing any more sleep - any advice will help. I'm trying to wrestle with why she would do this and Yoga is more than doing advanced asanas - isn't it? I await your response.

Nandakishor

Posted 3 years ago #
Paul
Key Master

Namaskar Nandakishor,

There are so many forms of Yoga that are not based upon asana practice. Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, Kundalini, Mantra, and Yantra could be added to the top of the list, but there are many more. Patanjali mentions Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, but asana is only one of them, and it is not the first limb mentioned. For good reason, Niyama and Yama are the first two limbs.

Lately, I have received a number of similar inquiries from Yoga teachers about this subject. Yoga is the application of concepts we learn, within each session, applied to daily living. To hear about teachers who fail to understand that Yoga is more than a physical exercise is ironic. Perhaps these same Yoga teachers never read the Yoga Sutras or heard of Patanjali. Possibly, physical prowess has inflated the ego so much that reality is fading away from the mind.

It is always very disappointing to know, meet, or hear about teachers who make judgements, inflate their egos, degrade their students, and completely miss the concept that Yoga is a complete lifestyle - not a physical exercise.

If Yoga were all about flexibility, we could make our children and grandchildren Swamis right now. A female Olympic gymnast is in her prime at 15 years of age. She can do all the fancy asanas, without attending a Yoga class. Is this Yoga? When she retires from gymnastics at 17, should we call her Swamini?

One more point to make: Yoga is often considered to be a science or art of living. The therapeutic application of Hatha Yoga is to reduce or end suffering from ailments. A competent Yoga teacher understands that each student's body is different. Standing on one hand, to inflate our importance, will not help our students benefit from the therapeutic application of Hatha Yoga.

OM Shanti,

Paul

Posted 3 years ago #
Gator
Member

Hi Nandakishor,

Nobody is perfect, but I expect a little better than that from my yoga teacher. Put that teacher behind you and move forward with your life. No need to worry about why it's unfair. People hurt each other all the time. You hold Yoga teachers to a higher standard and you should expect some knowledge of karma from them. Like what goes around comes around. Find good yoga teachers to study from and put the past behind.

Peace,
Gator

Posted 3 years ago #
jindi
User

Learn from the experience and move on without hate, hurt, or judgement.

Posted 3 years ago #
perdy
Member

Hi Nandakishor,

Maybe your old guru was having an off day and she was caught at a weak moment. But I wouldn't invite her to my next vegetatian brunch or her birthday. Maybe she never heard of ahimsa. As the days go by it will sting less, so you might want to let some time pass. At least you know her feelings and her thoughts about what yoga is are narrow.

Peace,
P

Posted 3 years ago #
mtnsol
Member

Namaskar Nandakishor,

This is that yoga teacher's issue. She should know right from wrong. But you can't let people mess with your self confidence unless you give them permission. Your life is your own. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself and God. Don't give this person the power to alter your life. Forgive her and look forward to important parts of your life. A mistake of thinking someone is your friend isn't enough to lose sleep over.

Shanti

Posted 3 years ago #
lea
Member

Sorry, but this yoga teacher is unstable. Yeah - she made a mistake, but by not being mindful of her mouth she has opened Pandora's box. I’ll never forget the time a hot yoga teacher looked at a student near me, who was struggling in Ardha Chandrasana, she scoffed at all of us, pointed her finger at all of us and said, “I can see none of you is any good!”

Some yoga teachers are not interested in showing you any compassion, because they are social misfits beyond the classroom walls. Why should they give you warm and compassionate feelings? Their ego is front and center. Mabe they only eat one apple a day, have tight bodies, and want to make everyone feel as bad as they do inside.

They long for a hot fudge sundae and feel mean all the time. But, "It's all about me time," during their classes. You can learn from bad yoga teachers about what not to be. Like, a little moderation is good for everyone.

Lesson learned - Don't study from a Yoga teacher who hasn't got a clue about anything beyond asana practice. You could learn asanas from a gymnast too, but that wouldn't be yoga either. If you're not getting the whole experience (all 8 limbs) move on.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jeanné
User

Wow! That is such an incredible lack of compassion as well as knowledge as to what yoga is all about. Believe in yourself, because you ARE good enough and move forward. Life is way too short to let someone like this take your confidence away.
Namaste,
Jeanné

Posted 3 years ago #
jatwilla
Member

Couldn't say it better myself Jeanné.

Posted 3 years ago #
shishya
Member

Shame on any Yoga teacher who doesn't understand Patanjali's Yoga. This is basic Raja Yoga 101. Any teacher who doesn't practice yama and niyama is no Guru. What can she teach students other than a circus act? Yoga instruction is not a refuge for gymnasts without social skills.

Posted 2 years ago #
SanjeevPatel
Member

A yoga teacher should be a living testament of ahimsa. We are supposed to apply yama and niyama at all times. These are the first two limbs of Patanjali's yoga. Our sacred practice is not an exercise class.

Posted 2 years ago #
Balkrishanji
Member

Namaskar!

It is obvious that we cannot let small minded people upset our lives. But it happens every time with give authority to others to make us angry over foolishness. We enable the simple minded to make mischief when we let them alter our sense of worth. If we are trained correctly, we have learned to determine our own path as a Yoga teacher. If your Guru did not teach you this then seek a competent Yoga Guru who teaches you to think for yourself. A true master wants you to be independent when he or she leaves this life. Otherwise all of the teachings die with the master. This is not the way of Yoga. Knowledge builds and evolves, while Yoga lives on.

Hari Om Tat Sat

Posted 2 years ago #
Tapas
Member

Yoga teachers aren't perfect. Talking bad about others is a human trait that doesn't go away easily no matter where we were trained. If you focus on training the body only, you can expect that mental growth will be lacking. The untrained mind disguised as a yoga teacher is an unsafe combination.

Posted 2 years ago #
Susumna
Member

Yes, it is agreed that yoga teachers and gurus are human. But we kindly expect a higher standard of behavior. If a person mentors yoga teachers and doesn't practice the first two limbs of yoga, she isn't a guru. She is only a gymnast teaching exercise classes.

Posted 2 years ago #

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