Congratulations, you’ve just completed Yoga Teacher Training Course! While you must be raring to start teaching and sharing the joy and beauty of yoga, I am sure you are also very keen to know how to become a good yoga teacher, so that you can provide the best experience to your students, while also building a good, solid reputation as a teacher in the community!
As you already know, yoga is a holistic practice that involves the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of well-being. As a yoga teacher, you play a crucial role in guiding and supporting students not only on their yoga journey, but in a way also in their personal growth.
While formal education and training are certainly important, there are many other factors that contribute towards what makes a good yoga teacher. Let us look at ten key qualities of a good yoga teacher:
- Dedication to their personal practice. A good yoga teacher is first dedicated to their own personal practice, and strives to practice the principles of yoga both on and off the mat. This includes living a healthy, balanced lifestyle, practicing self-care, and having healthy social interactions. This is not only because, as the saying goes, ‘you must practice what you preach,’ but also because a teacher can only guide their students as far as their own personal practice and experience has gone. Through experiencing the poses, breathing techniques, and other yogic practices on their own being, they can more thoroughly and deeply guide their students in their practices.
- Deep knowledge on anatomy, alignment, and yogic philosophy. A good yoga teacher must have a solid foundation of these topics, so that they are well equipped and able to create safe, impactful, and well-rounded classes that bring the most benefit to their students. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or beginner yogi, if you are interested to learn more about anatomy, alignment, yogic philosophy, and more, check out our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course happening in Bali! Our team of expert teachers and trainers are highly qualified in their respective fields and have been carefully selected to provide you the best, well-rounded education and training possible!
- Compassion, patience, and non-judgement. A good yoga teacher understands that everyone’s journey is different, and that each student will have unique needs and challenges. Therefore, they do not discriminate between students, but instead welcome everyone to the practice with open arms.
- A good yoga teacher is skilled at creating a balanced and well-rounded class that includes asanas, pranayama and meditation. Yoga is not merely exercise, it is a holistic practice which affects the practitioner on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Knowing this, a good teacher takes utmost care in designing classes which will provide the correct benefits to their students, as well as uplift them.
- Approachable and communicates effectively with their students. A good yoga teacher can not only communicate instructions and prompts clearly and effectively, they also listen actively and respond to their students’ questions and concerns with care and attention.
- A good yoga teacher is passionate about their work and committed to ongoing learning and development. They keep upgrading their skills and knowledge by attend workshops, conferences, and teaching programs to deepen their understanding of yoga and to refine their teaching skills.
- Adaptable and flexible in their teaching, able to adjust their teaching style and approach to meet the needs of different students and situations.
- A good yoga teacher fosters a sense of community and connection among their students. They create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Although yoga is a journey within oneself, it is also important to remember that it is also about building healthy relationships with others. As we have witnessed through this recent pandemic, healthy social interactions and a sense of community are important pieces of the puzzle in an individual’s mental and emotional health.
- Practices self-awareness, self-reflection, and a commitment to ongoing learning and growth. They demonstrate humility and openness to constructive criticism, recognizing that there is always more to learn and ways to grow.
- Understands the importance of ethical conduct, and upholds the highest standard of professionalism, integrity, and respect in their teaching practice. Ethical conduct creates a safe and respectful environment for students, establishes trust between student and teacher, and helps preserve the integrity of the practice. It is vital for yoga teachers to understand the ethical considerations involved in teaching yoga, such as maintaining professional boundaries, respecting student confidentiality, avoiding dual relationship, and promoting inclusivity and diversity. By adhering to ethical standards, yoga teachers can create a positive impact on their students and the wider yoga community.
As you can see, what makes a good yoga teacher is not only proper formal education and training, but also a good dose of personal characteristics and ethics. A good yoga teacher not only has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to deliver to their students, they also have adequate social skills that help build trust and rapport with their students. By embodying the qualities and principles listed above, a good yoga teacher can create a safe and supportive space for their students to practice in, and can have a profound impact on their lives.
