This week I celebrate a whole year of teaching yoga and to mark the occasion, I have put together some advice for people thinking of doing yoga teacher training or for newly qualified teachers. Lots of people have been getting in touch to ask me questions, so I thought it best to put all my advice together and hopefully it will help.
I took the YTT200 hour training a year ago, and I set up my own ‘community’ style classes in Lisbon to gain experience and to teach all levels from beginners. It was a real challenge and I learnt so much – I counted more than 300 teaching hours this past year. I started these classes in a random space, with no props, having to buy all my mats and bits, advertise the classes, find students, organise the timetable, the mailing list, the admin and more. As a first experience after training, I guess joining a studio would be a little easier and then you could focus just on the teaching ad getting the classes right.
I am about to move to Holland and start my physiotherapy degree in Amsterdam – I will try to find a studio to join, to become a part of a ‘family’ and to have the support of other teachers around. I am looking forward to teaching in a totally different environment.
Here is the advice I wish somebody had given me just before or after I trained:
1. Don’t focus on the asanas
As you become stronger in your practice, and learn new movements, its very tempting to focus on the asanas only. Keep this up but do not neglect practicing yoga in other areas of your life – learn all the rich teachings of yoga and begin a daily dedication. Develop an ‘energetic awareness’ of yourself, learn all about the 8 ‘limbs’ of yoga, practice kriyas, mudras, karma yoga, meditation, mantra and pranayama.
Don’t get sucked into the world of yoga asanas on instagram – its unhealthy and doesn’t show the true magic of the practice.
2. Silence is golden
When you start teaching you want to always talk about everything you have just learnt in your training. Sometimes less is more, give one or two key points and remember silence is very important for students. Let them experience the postures properly, listening and tuning into their bodies. Create and cultivate ‘the sound of silence’ to provide a space that is truly relaxing for the people attending your class.
Its a personal choice – but it is why I really don’t like classes with music. This is yoga – its important people can hear their breath and to switch off from distracting sounds or talk.
As a yoga teacher you have a poetic license – use it wisely. Don’t say anything without meaning. Be careful how you choose your words – the effect of what you say is very powerful. Don’t forget to smile and laugh – laughing relaxes the body and is good for you!
Don’t be afraid to give a super quiet and long ‘savansana’. There is nothing worse than a teacher just talking to fill the gaps of silence. It’s not genuine and peace is necessary especially at the end of class.
3. Morning meditation and movement
If you do not have your own daily practice, your classes will be dry and without true energy. There is no such thing as not enough time if you get up early. Wake up early, meditate and move. Even if you can only manage a short time, you need to get a good habit going of your own practice. If you do not enjoy practicing alone – then go to classes. I almost think the ratio is for every class you teach you should attend a class – but thats just my rhythm and something different may work for you. Teaching yoga is a real commitment and will take up lots of your time – it deserves your full attention.
4. India is waiting for you
I have not yet been to India and I can feel the magic is missing.
5. Breathe and relax, breathe and relax
Do not forget the importance of learning how to properly instruct pranayama exercises. Learn this fully and properly. Learn the full mechanics of breathing and how the body creates this process. Do not skip this – it makes all the difference between a good class and a great class.
6. Go to loads of classes
If you are lucky enough to live in a place with lots of different types of classes – then go to as many as possible. Figure out what you like and don’t like, try some different styles and new postures, hear different teachers and ways of teaching. Be open to learning as much as possible, and try to really ‘be’ in a class rather than think ‘oh I wouldn’t do it like that’ – enjoy the teachings of others and connect however you can.
7. Hands on, hand off
Its important to learn how to safely adjust – and if you feel like this was missing from your YTT then its something you need to learn soon. If you are about to do your YTT then make sure its something you learn while there with real bodies to practice with before you have real students.
Make sure you have a good and continuous understanding of human anatomy within the postures, and make sure your adjustments and corrections are safe. If you are unsure, then you need to do more learning. Its also super important if you are unsure, to not touch the student.
Make sure your hands are clean and not cold before you touch any students, make sure you tell them you will touch them and not just approach from behind. Perhaps it’s something you want to ask at the beginning of class – and if you do make sure to use the right language.
8. Learn your students names
As you start teaching, things can be a little overwhelming. Try if possible, to remember as many names of your students as possible. Acknowledge them when they walk in, smile, use their name in class, figure out what they like and don’t like. Remember important things about your students – injuries, postures they love, postures they are afraid to try. Use this information to go easy on them, to challenge them when the time is right. Learning names when possible is a really nice way to begin a relationship with your students. You may even make great friends with your students and this is such a special part of teaching.
9. Clean your feet and your clothes!
Your students will see a lot of them. Make sure you have clean feet always, clean toes and well kept soles. How do you think a student will feel if you come to adjust them and they can see dry crusty feet?! Moisture and care for your feet – its very important.
It is also important your whole body and clothes are presentable. I really believe that this is really very important – it makes me sound picky and I am not however you should treat your yoga practice like a prayer – clean your body before you begin. Also, students dont want to look at a teacher with a creased three day old t shirt. Wear your clean clothes on your clean body with pride – you need to feel good yourself to give a good class. It also shows you care and you didn’t just run in last minute to teach.
10. Sivananda
Before you even think about teaching, attend a Sivananda centre, and focus on the classes and style. They have the highest quality of teachers and training in the world, taught by dedicated and committed ‘swamis’ who live in the centres while teaching. In my opinion Sivananda is ‘pure’ yoga and has taught me much more than my teaching training ever could. It is sometimes referred to as ‘classical’ yoga and its really important to become familiar with Sivananda as a proper foundation for your career as a yoga teacher. The teachers are very properly trained, and if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay in one of their ashrams you really should. This is where yoga is a way of life, and you practice all paths of yoga.
Yes Yoga 