What are you pursuing as a yoga teacher?

29

Over the past decade, I’ve never formally sat down and asked myself this question until recently. But pausing on “the pursuit” of a yoga teacher is integral to where and how we end up as yoga teachers. Let’s dissect this in this month’s series.

What influences you as a yoga teacher…

Have you ever wondered about this? What has influenced you as a yoga teacher? Because we live in a day and age where anything can be sold as yoga by anyone. Furthermore, have you spent time discerning between impact and influence? The two aren’t the same when it’s about yoga.  

Some factors that could influence you are…

• How engaged you are with social media yoga
• Who you look up to as yoga teachers digitally
• Your yoga education so far – asana and non-asana aspects
• Your overall interpretation of yoga
• Your personality
• Your yoga peers

• Some factors that create impact are… 
• The impact is created when you’re able to reflect on your actions, your abilities and your inability or shortcomings.
• Your focus is on yoga and living your yoga
• You’re able to deal with rewards and disappointments with the same mindset
• When your smallest wins matter more than the big ones

We don’t spend enough time on yoga studies on this. But a fundamental question every yoga teacher should be asking themselves time and time again is what you are pursuing. I say time and time again, because as you evolve in your yoga so does your pursuits.

For example, when I was very new to the yoga world, I would think filling up my asana classes and helping people physically was my pursuit.  That changed as my studio built up to offering yoga education to yoga teachers. And so on. As a very high-level example.

It’s important for you to pause and reflect on your pursuit as this will give you enhanced clarity. It will bring you deeper and greater satisfaction on your path of being a modern-day yoga teacher. There is no perfect list of what to pursue as this will be different for each one of us.  

But here are some prompts. Use these to come up with your own.

In asana classes, pursue to be …

• Approachable, humble, and skillful
• Be present
• Stay connected with your higher or deeper self

On social media, pursue to be …

• Disciplined
• Honest
• Critical
• Impact vs influence

In your asana practice, pursue to be…

• Diligent
• Critical
• Content
• Present
• Curious
• Connect to the greater message of yoga often

In your pranayama practice, pursue to be…

In your interaction with other yoga peers, pursue to be

• Silent
• Tolerant
• Listen more
• Respond not react

In your interaction with your teachers, pursue to be…

• Humble
• Sincere
• Practice reverence

With your loved ones, pursue be…

With yourself, pursue to be…

• Present
• Reflective
• Curious
• Growth mindset
• What we pursue should always be more of an internal quest than external one. External markers are needed but they shouldn’t be your primary ones. I hope this helps you become more of a reflective yoga teacher in your journey ahead.

Wish you the best on this journey.