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5 Things the Best Yoga Instructor Should Know

Author: Jaxon Morris
by Jaxon Morris
Posted: Dec 18, 2020

Becoming the best yoga instructor takes hard work, talent, and years of experience. It is a gradual process of changing old habits and learning to be a confident and humble mentor. Gaining knowledge of theory and different techniques of yoga with a dedicated mental focus is important for yogis. This is polished by dedication to practice, teaching all levels of students, and attending yoga workshops.

Certain qualities represent a good yoga teacher. The style of teaching and a positive attitude is as important as authentic yoga practices. Patience to resolve student’s queries helps in building the trust of students. Besides being technically precise in yoga asanas, the focus should also be on improving the mind-body connection and inner awareness. Yoga transforms a student’s personality physically, mentally, and spiritually. And showing the right direction to achieve it is the goal of an inspiring yoga teacher.

The following are five of the most important things that will help you become the best yoga instructor.

  1. Teaching yoga is more than just giving instructions

Instructing students about the techniques of asanas is only the physical aspect of yoga. The philosophy and principles of yoga are also equally essential. A good yoga teacher promotes yoga philosophy that is about the union of the body, mind, and spirit. The discipline of yoga comes by being in control of all these three aspects. Keeping a calm and composed mind is part of the personality of a yoga teacher. The students respond well if the teacher is humble and reflects a positive attitude. An experienced yoga guru inspires students to make informed decisions in life. Teaching yoga is also about sharing the experience of yoga with students to bring clarity and ultimately bring spiritual upliftment.

  1. Adaptability and awareness is more important than flexibility

Looking at yoga pictures always make beginners insecure about their flexibility. It is no doubt that average flexibility is required, but it is not the most important thing for becoming a good yoga teacher. The sign of a true yoga guru is someone aware of the strength and limitations of different bodies.

Physical fitness improves as you continue yoga practice regularly. Some students have more strength to hold a yoga pose while others have the ability to hold their breath for a longer time. Both of these activities require focus and hard work. A good yoga teacher makes a student realize that the limitations are an opportunity to grow. The adaptability of yoga can be used to modify any asana. This understanding helps yoga practitioners later when they start teaching students of different levels and health conditions.

  1. Building trust with students

Students look up to teachers to emulate their habits and learn from them. The process of learning and teaching becomes stronger when the student trusts a teacher. Trust opens the channels of communication, and resolving queries is easier. The detailed knowledge of anatomy, breath, and energies of the body helps a yoga teacher to guide the students properly. The students need support from teachers to avoid the risks of getting injured. When the students practice yoga with correct alignment and adjustments, they can gain maximum benefits of yoga. A yoga teacher should know when it is necessary to use a prop for practicing asana. When the trust is stronger, teachers can take the training of a student to reach a transformative level.

  1. Preparation before class

A good yoga teacher is well-prepared before a class. It is an essential aspect of teaching any class that helps in remaining organized. Planning the class can be done one day before the class or for a week. Both types of planning can work for different types of teaching methods. Making notes before and after class is also important as a reminder checklist. The preparation should be aligned according to the syllabus and duration of the course. This helps the teacher to keep track and analyze the progress of students. The teacher should also maintain physical and mental self-practice. A strong yoga routine inspires students to follow in the same footsteps as their teacher. Besides, being punctual is a basic but important factor that shows the passion and dedication of the teacher towards yoga practice.

  1. Promote self-care with self-discipline

Yoga teachers are spiritual gurus and fitness experts combined in one. They lead by example that is derived from studying the yoga philosophy and following the principles of yoga. The discipline of yoga includes physical practice and mindful habits. This promotes fitness as a lifestyle. The teachers of yoga help students improve their mind-body connection by removing bad habits and including healthy practices. Students develop respect for their bodies and mind. The daily practice of mantra chanting starts as a routine but later develops as a necessary spiritual practice. Similarly, maintaining regular yoga asana practice may start with the goal of removing stress and pain. But the actual benefits of yoga begin working when the students focus on a positive attitude throughout their life. A yoga teacher helps students integrate yoga practices into everyday lifestyle.

Conclusion

Yoga as a personal practice or a routine has physical as well as mental benefits. But becoming a yoga teacher involves managing the discipline of yoga as a lifestyle. The study of yoga does require expert knowledge of theory and techniques. But the values and philosophy of yoga that focuses on helping students selflessly can only be developed by dedication to yoga practice. Yoga teaching comes with a great deal of responsibility to encourage and discipline students. And adopting a yogic lifestyle to realize spiritual maturity is a true sign of an excellent yoga instructor.

About the Author

Myself Jaxon Morris, and I'm a Yoga educator with more than 5 years of yoga instructing experience. I have journeyed various nations, for instance, – UK, India, USA, Netherlands, Etc.. I began my career from Vedic learning school.

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Author: Jaxon Morris

Jaxon Morris

Member since: Dec 15, 2020
Published articles: 1

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