RYT Lynn Somerstein, an Integral Yoga teacher in New York, went to teacher training to deepen her own practice and increase her yoga knowledge before speaking at an international conference. She continues to learn even though she’s been practicing since 1968.
“The more I teach the more I learn, and the deeper I feel drawn into yoga,” Somerstein said. “I teach psychoanalytic theory too, so I know how much teaching enhances my own understanding.”
Don’t Step Over the Line Into the “Yoga Police”
ERYT Suzie Celentano is a master trainer for YogaFit, which focuses heavily on safety and alignment in its teacher training, sometimes modifying poses slightly from the traditional forms. Still, she doesn’t want that focus to take over class.
“We are not the yoga police,” she said. “Sure, like the police we are there to ensure safety, and we are there to lead the group heaven forbid something goes wrong. But as long as safe standards are being met, we are there to have some fun.”
Embrace Your Students and Their Abilities
Madison, Wis., instructor Debra Lafler reminds new instructors that the class members are the primary focus during class.
“Teaching yoga is different than being taught or doing yoga yourself,” she said. “When you teach, you are teaching for your students, not yourself.”
That might mean not going as deep into a pose as you can in a class full of beginners, or doing poses that might not be your favorites because your students want or need them.
Above all, Celentano says, instructors should feel love for all their students. She admits that describing it that way sounds corny, but it is critical to a good experience for students.
“If I am empathetic to a person's capabilities, goals, and/or challenges, then I can offer a perspective that is needed in the moment,” Celentano said.
Explore Different Styles
Celentano suggests potential teachers explore the different styles of yoga. While she teaches Vinyasa, or flow yoga, there are many other traditions within hatha yoga, including Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar and Kundalini. An Iyengar class, with its focus on holding poses for long periods of time and using props to refine alignment, is much different from Celentano’s classes that flow from one pose into another on a single breath.
“You would not expect a photographer to try to become a painter,” she said. “Yoga has many different aspects and it’s important that you find a home that is yours that sings in your heart.”
Don’t Lose Sight of the Yoga
All three instructors agree that continuing their own practice, separate from the classes they teach, is important.
Somerstein only teaches once or twice a week, which she said keeps her from becoming stale. As with all Integral Yoga Institute teachers, she volunteers her time.
Celentano compares maintaining personal practice and balance with her teaching to airplane safety instructions to adjust your air mask first before helping others.
“We are givers, and that is great, but if we don't take care of ourselves and continue to grow, then we have less to offer to ourselves or anyone else,” she said. “This is not selfishness; this is nourishment.”
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