5 Ways to Become an Authentic Yoga Teacher

In the months after graduating from yoga teacher training, I would stand in front of the mirror and practice my script for hours. I practiced signs, memorized my pronunciation of Sanskrit terms, and read inspirational quotes from books over and over again because I thought that was what it took to sound like a “real” yoga teacher.

However, when I would make audio recordings of myself teaching an actual class and then play them back later, I would feel embarrassed. I loved attending classes that inspired me with quotes and poems, but this approach to teaching didn’t suit me at all. I was trying to be Pedro’s yoga teacher instead of just being Pedro. The real Pedro would tell jokes, relate everything to everyday life, and didn’t care if I stumbled over my words.

Over the years, I have seen this pattern repeated over and over again with teachers I have mentored and coached. I’ve heard countless variations on the same struggle, “I don’t seem to know enough” or “I should know more before I start teaching.” When in reality the most powerful thing we can do as teachers is to simply show up as we are, get out of our own way, and just be ourselves!

Ultimately, I realized that the moments where I felt like my classes were most effective didn’t happen when I was trying to impress anyone. It happened when I allowed myself to tell a joke, simplify a sequence, or actually connect with the people in the room before, during, and after the lesson.

We still need to lead classrooms in a way that is accessible and tailored to students’ needs. After all, we provide a solid service. But there is also a human element to teaching, something that cannot be faked.

How to become an authentic yoga teacher

When you commit to staying true to yourself and showing up authentically over and over again, you will stand out among the students who interact with you and benefit from your teaching style. Here are some of the more challenging things to remember as you move toward your strength.

1. Don’t pretend to be someone else!

When I was starting out, I tried to teach like the people I was taking classes by ditching the fancy anatomy jargon and reading Lao Tzu quotes. Not only did it feel forced and awkward, it was inappropriate for me to include mid-flow dissection lectures and dharma talks.

I would also try to match the energy of the studio’s brand, or worse, the energy of the previous teacher I was replacing or replacing. I felt terrible. And it probably wasn’t great for the students when I was trying to force my teaching style into a style that didn’t work for me.

So I stopped trying to fit into the box I thought students wanted and instead led the class myself. guess what? The students seemed happy that I appeared as a light-hearted, non-serious yoga teacher. And they kept coming back.

As I got more training, gained more practice, and built a community, I found more confidence in the way I was teaching.

2. Teach what you know

In my early days of teaching, I would look around at the students and my inner critic would, in a very loud voice, ask me what I could teach them. Then I’ll overcompensate and try to justify being there by adding more signals, more complexity, more of everything. This just made things more confusing.

So I kept things simple. I taught easy flows, cracked a few jokes, and somehow it ended up better than I could have ever imagined. Nearly 14 years later, I still don’t overcomplicate my sequences. Because my teaching style is consistent, students know what to expect and are confident.

This doesn’t mean you should ignore your curiosity or suppress your enthusiasm! You are allowed to learn and develop your teaching. But there is no need to over-complicate matters. If your students can learn about the poses and see growth in their practice, they will trust you. If they trust you, they will continue to come to class and experience change in their lives even as you continue your yoga studies.

3. Don’t worry about what other teachers are doing

It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing and judging, in part due to the pervasive influence of social media. If you’re creating content for a social platform, it’s important to communicate authentically and share messages and content that resonate with you, just like you would in the classroom.

You don’t have to post pictures of yourself in poses if that’s not your jam. If sequencing creative flows is your thing, share it. I have had a lot of success with Share hilarious memes– A radical departure from those poetic quotations of my early days. Whatever shares an authentic image of you and makes it easier for you to be consistent with your posts, do it.

4. Whether it’s 1 or 1,000 students, give it your all

I recently taught a class where only one person signed up. As a new teacher, this situation would probably have made me feel anxious and defeated. But after 14 years of teaching, I know that no matter how many students are present, they deserve the same attention and care as a classroom crowded with mats. The class is about their experience, not validating you. I did everything I could to meet her needs and give her the best experience possible. She returned to class the following week. A month later, she signed up for an upcoming yoga retreat with four friends.

Be sincere in always doing your best and giving your all to anyone in the room.

5. Remember your “why”

A wise teacher once told me: “Forget how you think everything will go well. You will figure it out as long as your ‘why’ is strong enough.” I believe that where there is a reason, there is a way.

So ask yourself, why did you want to start teaching in the first place? Why does it keep appearing over and over again? Write it down and keep it handy. Then return to it again and again throughout your teaching career. Why might it evolve? This is good. Whatever it is, be honest with it.

Photography by Kelly Rodriguez