As a Yoga Teacher, knowledge is the foundation of confidence. Bravado and “fake it til you make it”
can work for a while, but genuine self-belief comes from knowing that you know
your stuff.
What does this mean when you walk into a room full of expectant students? It
means:
You need to know what you’re about to teach, so teach from your own
practice. Plan and practice the class beforehand to be sure it works well
and that you understand it. And to be word-perfect, instruct it out loud as
you practice it at home. Lots of Yoga Teachers do this to start out with.
Develop your own knowledge – don’t stop building your own broader
appreciation for the many elements of Yoga so that you can field deeper
questions about anatomy, physical practice, good breath, the subtle body
– to name just a few.
Get experience – all sorts of situations crop up when teaching. The more
you can say to yourself “been there, done that”, the more confident you
will feel. Start by teaching family, friends, or work colleagues on an
informal basis. Voice your opinions about Yoga, especially in groups that
dismiss “all that hippy nonsense” – not to try to prove anything, but just to
get used to thinking on your feet. You’ll be surprised what you come out
with when you jump in feet first!
Talk to other teachers, new and experienced. Get feedback from different
perspectives on anything that concerns you. Yoga teaching is the best way to
integrate one’s own learning, so talk it though and then apply yourself
again.
The Yogafurie Teacher Training course is practice-based: you’ll learn asana and
pranayama through practice and they’ll soon become habit. You’ll study the
anatomical layout and the subtle energy map of the human body, and learn to
cross-reference them to postures and breath. You’ll be able to diagnose what you
and others need from Yoga, write the practice prescription, and safely guide
people taking the medicine. You’ll do a lot of teaching practice too – sometimes at
normal room temperature, then at a glowy 30 degrees, and later in the full 42
degrees of a regular Yogafurie class. We build a supportive practice community
of aspiring and new teachers who’ll give you honest and constructive feedback
and help when you need it. Your support network starts here.
Find out more about studying to teach Hot Yoga and regular Yoga on our Yoga Teacher
Training pages.
