I find that being a yoga instructor is hugely rewarding and also a humbling experience. I love the fact that it can actually make a real difference to people’s lives: their health, mental and spiritual wellbeing! It can also be hard work, but the appreciation and the encouragement of my students makes it all worthwhile! It is always my endeavor to remain receptive to ideas and suggestions and to make sure that I don’t get complacent about what I do. I try to keep in mind the attributes of a good yoga teacher and try to work towards this.
Being a yogi
It’s about practicing what you preach. It’s about not just doing yoga but about being a yogi. I feel that a good yoga teacher should be well trained and certified; someone who knows what he or she is doing. It’s not about doing very advanced or difficult aasans but about doing each aasan the proper way, with correct positioning of the limbs, the right breathing technique. It is also about living the yogic lifestyle – about being mindful, eschewing hate, keeping an open mind, cultivating contentment and so on.
Cultivating patience
I feel that it is important for any teacher, not just a yoga teacher to have deep reserves of patience. One has to be able to help a student, to persevere if they don’t get it the first time, and to keep on trying till they reach their full potential. It is also necessary to be flexible in the way that one conducts a class. A good yoga teacher cannot be rigid in their demands because each student has their own limitations, which the teacher has to try and work around.
Developing insight
The ability to understand the goals and aspirations of students is important. Ideally a good yoga instructor should be able to quickly understand the capabilities and limitations of each student and then try to structure classes accordingly.
Effective communication
It is vital that a good yoga teacher is able to connect with the students so as to impart instruction in the most valuable manner. The teacher should also be an effective communicator, so that the teacher is able to gently tell a student about personal /physical limitations and areas that need improvement /hard work.
Passion
I find that teaching yoga demands vast amounts of physical energy and stamina. To teach, one has to do, after all! I cannot demonstrate how to do an aasan without doing it myself. So this is certainly physically taxing and demands a high level of fitness. It also helps to be passionate about yoga and about helping one’s students. I try to keep myself motivated about my work – and it isn’t difficult because of how enjoyable and rewarding it is. My students’ compliments and words of appreciation are just the cherry on the cake!
Continuing to be a student
I also think that it is vital never to stop being a student. Though I am a yoga instructor, I am also a lifelong yoga student. I continue to learn new things, explore ways to become a better human being and yogi. I think this is vital – not only does this help me improve and evolve as a good yoga teacher, it helps my students make progress as well. If I stagnate, so do my students; so for me it is important to continue to strive to become better at what I do, to know more about yoga and its origins, as well as the lifestyle. If my students have suggestions or ideas I try to be receptive to these as well – there is wisdom in all of us; we can all learn from each other. I believe that it is possible to be a teacher and a student simultaneously in life!