Amazing Yoga

You Already Have it Within You to Be an Impactful Yoga Teacher

Sean and Karen — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:31:05 +0000

To make an impact as a yoga teacher it requires self-discovery. There is a myth that it requires tons of knowledge and techniques to become an inspiring yoga teacher. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

“All power is within you; you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. You can do anything and everything, without even the guidance of any one. Stand up and express the divinity within you.” – Swami Vivekananda

To be a yoga teacher, you must be committed to making positive change in your life. You must be open to sharing your heart fully and living from your heart. Unfortunately, we have become a culture that is addicted to seeking and searching for the answers somewhere “out there”. Some of us have become so attached to this idea of seeking that we wouldn’t even know what to do if we found what we were looking for. Many of us even think that we are broken. However, we are not broken and we do not need fixing. We have just buried our spirit. Our spirit that expresses our creativity, vitality, and wonder. We do not need self improvement, we need self-discovery! When we live our lives through self-discovery, we know that we are already whole.

“You’ve been walking in circles, searching. Don’t drink by the water’s edge. Throw yourself in. Become the water. Only then will your thirst end.” - Jeanette Berson

Through your yoga practice you have discovered that there is no finish line. The ultimate exploration is meeting ourselves, not finding ourselves. To discover your true potential, shift your focus from what you perceive to be broken to letting go of limiting beliefs that you have put upon yourself.

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Five Tips for New Yoga Teachers

Sean and Karen — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:28:12 +0000

You just completed teacher training, now what?

You’re ready. You’ve taught to your friends, family, your neighbors, and even your pet chihuahua. Now you are heading out from safe waters. Your new adventure and next step might be a studio, a gym, or a community center.

Have fun and use these tips and reminders to guide you.

1. Keep it Simple

Use the KISS method. Keep it Simple for Students. As a new teacher, you will be most likely attracting students who are new to yoga as well. You do not need to wow them, knock their socks off, or hit a home run. Some teachers feel as if they have to throw the entire kitchen sink at them via creative sequencing, quotes and stories. The hope is that it may impress them or that it is needed for students to have a powerful yoga experience. But for students, less is more. People have enough on their plates to be bogged down and confused with complex instruction and poses, different language, overuse of yoga jargon, etc. Just showing up for students is an incredible accomplishment. They are already learning something new by just being in class.

2. Be Easy on Yourself

You will always teach one of the three following classes:

One. The one you plan to teach

Two. The one you actually teach

Three. The one you should have taught

Number three can stifle new teachers. I should have said this, I should have down this, etc. Some teachers will spend the entire ride home second guessing what they said and did. Learn from each class you taught and move on.

3. Use one student in the room to teach to the entire class.

For new teachers, all the students in the room may be overwhelming. To stay present and connected, look at one student when you are teaching alignment and speak to “their body.” For example, say you are teaching Warrior 1, you would look at one persons feet and speak to the foundation of the pose. Not only does that individual person benefit, but the whole room does as well, because you are connecting physically and you are present. It lands powerfully for the whole class.

4. Have a Cheat Sheet Nearby

As a new teacher, you already have enough things on your plate, such as memorizing a sequence, alignment cues, timing, etc. Make it easy on yourself and have a notebook nearby with your sequence, reminders, or whatever you need. It’s okay if you freeze or get stuck. If you do freeze, put your students in Down Dog, grab your notebook and get back on track and regain your composure.

5. Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Like attracts like. You will most likely have students new to yoga if you are new teacher. Simply, do your best. It is amazing the stories that we hear from brand new teachers. We have heard countless stories where students have attended their first class from a brand new teacher, and that specific class had a profound impact on that new students life and hooked them on yoga. The practice is potent. Just getting people to move their bodies, to experience freedom, to clean their minds with deep breathing is super powerful. Remember when we teach, we teach for them. Share yourself. Share your love of yoga. Students will pick up on this and it will come back to you.

“What do you like to share about yoga? What is it about the practice that lights you up? Leave a comment and tell us about it.”

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Realizing The Power Behind What We Teach and Share

Sean and Karen — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:31:13 +0000

At a past teacher training a male student in his mid 50’s shared a compelling story with the group about the real life changing effect of the yoga practice.

He was suffering from a debilitating disease that was wrecking havoc on his body. His daily life was a physical, mental, and emotional struggle. He felt as if he was running out of options to improve his daily living.

He arrived at his first class on the recommendation of his doctor, unsure and unconvinced about this “yoga craze”. Beautifully, when we stepped into the yoga room for his first time, it was also a brand new teacher who was getting ready to teach her first class ever. The teacher who loved yoga and had a passionate for sharing what she loved delivered a magical class and he was hooked.

She had a limited knowledge of yoga, had very little experience, but that mattered little. Each one of this has this potential to make change and help each other. This is great news for all of us! Sharing from true passion changes people’s lives!

Since that first class one year ago, he arrived in Mexico at our teacher training 100 pounds lighter. Formerly convinced at this point that he would be in a wheelchair due to his disease and the numbing that was present in his hands and feet. He not only was free from the numbness in his body, but he was now fully participating in a power yoga teacher training, which included 2 powerful classes a day.

As a new teacher, NEVER think that you do not have enough. Of course, staying on the growing path is integral to deepening your practice and knowledge, but if you have a passion and have felt the healing power of yoga on your mat, then you have enough to share.

How has the power of yoga touched your life? Share your experiences with us, leave a comment below.

Best wishes,

Karen and Sean

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