Most of us become yoga teachers because of a deep desire to share something we love so much that has helped us personally in ways that are hard to put into words.
We don’t necessarily know the first thing about HOW to teach, we just know that we want to.
There are essentially two parts to becoming a teacher regardless of the subject:
- having a firm grasp of the content or subject matter—this is the WHAT of your teaching, in our case, yoga; and
- understanding teaching methodology—this is the HOW of teaching, which greatly affects how well your students receive the WHAT of your teaching.
If you’re lucky, you’ve had some teaching experience elsewhere in your past since during a typical 200-hour Yoga Alliance-registered teaching training only about 25 hours are dedicated to teaching methodology.
What this means is that most new yoga teachers struggle a little while getting their footing in this area.
As a trainer of yoga teachers, I’ve noticed some mistakes we all tend to make during this stage (me included!). Here are the top 10 yoga teacher fails.
Top 10 mistakes you may be making as a yoga teacher
Not learning your students’ names. This is so critical that I’m mentioning it first—if you don’t learn your students’ names, they will not return to class. Most students come to class to feel connected to others. If you don’t take the time to learn their names, they will not feel like it matters whether they’re there or not. Pure and simple. This is a no-brainer.
Not welcoming new students to class. Also in the no-brainer category is taking the time to welcome a new student. Seems so basic but I myself have been to classes where the teacher never approached me.
Thinking that class time is your practice time. Yes, I know that your personal practice time suffers once you start teaching—really, I get that. But you must fight to keep your own practice time sacred so it doesn’t bleed into your teaching time. If you want inspiration, watch this video about BKS Iyengar’s amazing dedication to his personal practice .
Watching yourself in the mirror. If you have mirrors in your studio, pretend they don’t exist, unless you need them to see a student. Do not preen, adjust your clothes and hair or watch yourself walk across the studio in your new yoga outfit. I know this sounds harsh, but it just sets a bad example. Trust me, you look awesome!
Assuming that students can do what you’re asking them to do. People who become yoga teachers tend to be the ones who have a propensity for it. If this is you, then please be aware that students can be clueless about what you’re asking them to do. This is your opportunity to get precise about what goes into executing something that is easy for you but not for them. Give clear, detailed instructions. Then pay attention. If you notice students aren’t responding to your instructions or don’t understand vague remarks like, “Melt your heart,” don’t use it. Try something else instead; your students will appreciate your desire to communicate in a way they understand.
Talking in a sing-song “yoga teacher” voice—or a baby voice. I’m not sure where this one started but new teachers often talk in an airy, falsetto voice that sounds like they’re talking to a child. It’s much more effective to talk in your real voice. We’re not trying to look and sound like some image of a yoga teacher. We’re communicating information and inspiration with authenticity and clarity.
Using the collective “we” when giving instructions. When you say things like, “Let’s take our right foot and move it forward,” it’s a lot less potent than, “Take your right foot forward.” Again, clear instructions trump everything.
Not giving permission for all levels. This one harkens back to mistake #5—your students will come in all shapes and sizes, and the need to give them permission to not compare themselves to others and work within their own comfort zone cannot be overemphasized. We’ve been raised in a “no pain, no gain” society where we’re encouraged to live by the standards of others. It takes constant reminders to overcome this tendency in students.
Not setting the proper expectation/excitement for them to return to class. Rarely do I hear a teacher end class with a reminder about what’s going to happen in their next class. It’s important to give students an incentive to return by saying something like, “In next week’s class, I’ll be covering arm balances and how to get into them step-by-step.” This will draw your students back by creating something to look forward to. It’s not self-promotion (gasp!); it’s a helpful aid to keep them on track with their practice.
Not giving a clear outline of your class. This is really Teaching Methodology 101. First, tell your students what you’re going to cover, then cover it, then tell them what you covered. This will go a long way in helping them retain what they learned and appreciate the journey on which they have embarked. My students repeatedly tell me that they like it when I tell them upfront what I have planned for the class—even when it’s not much different than what we normally do. It helps their primitive brain to relax a little.
There are many more things we’re doing right than wrong as yoga teachers, but it’s important to remember that your yoga teaching is part of your sadhana. It requires the same mindful awareness, willingness to continually stretch your limits and to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Yoga teaching is a calling and it requires the same dedicated effort (tapas) as your practice on the mat.
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Excellent! I’m not a yoga teacher but I can relate to a lot of these. It’s great when a teacher knows your name, and also gives super clear instructions!
You may not be a teacher but it’s good to hear it from a student’s perspective, Tarah!
Thanks for your input…I appreciate it.
Thank you! As a young teacher I really appreciate the straight forwardness of your article… As a student I rolled my eyes at #4 and #6. Yeas, I have seen those happen in class as well as in the gym while working with a personal trainer one on one, and both these things are sooooo annoying!
Thank you so much, Marta, for your feedback! Some of these are so obvious and yet we see them all the time, and are guilty of them ourselves sometimes. Best wishes on your teaching path…keep in touch! xoxo
Thanks so much for all of your posts. They’re wonderful, encouraging and insightful. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences… especially with those of us just beginning our yoga teaching journeys.
Thank you so much for connecting with us, Miranda! I’m happy that you found our information useful and inspiring…yay! We just posted some new videos on our FB page for our handstand challenge. Come spend some time with us there: https://www.facebook.com/blissedoutyogini
Blessings!
Rupali
Thank you.
They are clear and to the point. I will rescan them along the way to make sure I keep on track!
My daughter has been going to Grad school on your Island.
I have been several times to visit and sure wish I came across you before.
I told her about you and hopefully she will come to your class or workshops.
Do you ever have any community classes that are affordable for the poor college budget?
Be Well.
Nice to meet you, Shari!
Tania and I have not been teaching public classes because of our travel schedule but that doesn’t mean we won’t at some point again in the future.
In the meantime we have a monthly workshop at Still & Moving Center, and regularly work with private clients.
Regarding your daughter, she could look up the community donation classes at Yoga Hawaii, Open Space Yoga and Power Yoga Hawaii. Yoga Hawaii also has a seva program where she can do a work exchange for free yoga.
Thanks for making contact…hope to welcome you back to the islands someday!
Well. Now I know where to go when I arrive to Hawaii. It’s the ‘when’ part that escapes me.
Hahahaha…yes, I understand that part can be a challenge, Liz! But we’ll be waiting for you on a mat under a palm tree!
Thanks very usefull!!
Great, thanks, Ana…I’m glad it was!
Thanks for stopping by…namaste.
It’s sooo true! I’ve been teaching to yoga instructors for years and I could add to the list…Thank you for this post, Rupali, we yoga teachers should really get more instruction on that…For my 10 or so years as a teacher, I have NEVER practiced in my classes, yet the general mentality is that since you’er an instructor, you get your workout while teaching…Don’t get this mentality, honestly… always has shocked me.. not the right reasons to become a teacher…
Thank you!
Hi Irina ~
Generally I think this comes about because teachers are teaching so much that their own practices suffer, and then they try to get in a practice whenever they can. I understand the problem, for sure. But it’s not very healthy for teachers’ to be trying to practice and teach at the same time. It’s a recipe for injury. I’ve seen it many times.
Thanks for contributing your input…and keep spreading the light. 🙂
I used to teach yoga and have taken a break in the last 14 months , visiting various studios on the west and east coast.Among other things I wanted to avoid falling into a box as a teacher and remain open to develop myself, expand my practice , reassess the why what and how. I have been struck by what I would define as intolerance .a paradox with the suggested kindness compassion and peace intention classes want to enhance in each of us. Expectation, formats, clothing, business vibes of “running” a studio or a class. A great contrast to what is being said and what is being felt. Many times resisting my ego to fall into the need of ” matching ” and many times coming out with a sense of inadequacy, loneliness. All your points make sense, I am contemplating and participating in 500 hrs therapeutic yoga, unsure still to have found my niche where the blessing of receiving can translate in the giving. Humility and disciplin would be my credo, resuming all your points. I live with my son in law a newly arrived Tibetan in the US and am constantly reminded of mindfulness and simplicity of things when we can stay truthful loving unattached yet dedicated.
This is so beautifully expressed, Helene…I think many teachers are feeling this disconnect between how they are expected to show up and how they’re really feeling. It’s exacerbated by the fashion industry which now has its sights on yoga as a major money-machine. And the franchised yoga gyms with their one-hour, in-and-out, sweat-it-out mentality.
However, I think there’s still a place for the humble, mindful, simple teachings of yoga and people like you who are willing to step back and notice and not be pulled into the trendy momentum.
Stay true to yourself…and thank you so much for your insightful comment,
Rupali
Although I teach children, people in recovery as well as ‘general’ populations, I find that my teaching with those who have been affected by sexual trauma the most useful to me in every other environment.
Although people want to know what they are doing, they don’t often like being ‘watched’. (it’s a core principal in trauma sensitive yoga)I’ve revealed a rhythm that is naturally subject to change, however, I ‘practice’ or perhaps it’s ‘demonstrate’ while easing in my suggestions from quiet observations.
This list is wonderful. Thank you. I especially love the permission to speak the way I speak. There are times when humor happens and I wonder if my ascended teachers role their eyes… or laugh.
I agree with your point about doing the practice alongside your students, especially in these kind of circumstances, Liz. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, it helps the visual learners quite a bit if they can watch you going into a pose.
My reference above has more to do with the teacher who ignores his or her students because the teacher is busy ‘performing’ the pose. That’s a much different energy, right?
Often I’ll move into and out of the pose with the class, but while they’re holding the pose, I’ll move around the room speaking to what I’m seeing and giving specific awarenesses.
I have a feeling that you’re a very attentive teacher so keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂