In the same way that not every person you meet is going to be your new best friend, not every yoga teacher is going to vibe with you. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad teacher or you’re “not meant for this whole yoga thing”. You just haven’t found your ideal match quite yet.
Luckily, we have a ton of yoga teachers and styles to choose from, and while so many options may feel overwhelming at first, we totally believe your perfect yoga counterpart is out there. Sometimes it just takes a bit of exploring to find The One. Here are a few questions you’ll want to consider as you look for the teacher of your dreams:
What are you hoping to get out of your practice?
This is an important one because there is such a variety of lineages, styles, and ideologies surrounding yoga. You have to find the one that resonates with you. For example, if you’re looking for a super high energy, sweaty power vinyasa (flow) class, you wouldn’t want to meet with a teacher who specializes in a quiet, relaxing style like yin or restorative yoga. Or if you want to incorporate your personal religion or faith into your daily practice, you’ll want to find someone with the same belief structure to connect with and guide you through that. Getting clear on what exactly you’re looking to gain or let go of through your yoga practice is the first step to calling in a teacher with that same frequency.
How do you feel in their presence?
There needs to be a solid level of trust and comfortability between you and your teacher. Feeling safe enough to be vulnerable is non-negotiable. If you don’t feel like you can openly share your concerns, or discuss your injuries or traumas with your teacher, they aren’t the one for you. Ideally, you and your teacher will share some sort of nice connection just as regular people in addition to your teacher-student classroom relationship. The right teacher will make you feel heard, seen, respected, and hopefully inspired to continue on your journey!
What are their credentials?
We’ve really taken the work out of this one for you because all of our teachers are handpicked and vetted into our app based on some pretty high standards. Basically, we know our teachers are highly qualified, experienced, and just plain awesome. But if you have specific prerequisites of your own, it’s important to get clear on them. For example, if you’re newly pregnant, maybe you only want a female yoga teacher who has also been a delivery nurse or midwife for the last five years. Or maybe you really want to practice with a teacher who has an anatomy degree or spent significant time studying pranayama (breath work) in India. If there’s something extra special and “niche-y” that you’re hoping for, own that and call it in! Our yoga teachers have all sorts of great specialties; odds are you can find exactly what you’re looking for without settling.
Once you’ve spent some time contemplating these questions and getting clear on your desires, you’ll have a much smoother time finding the teacher who will help you grow exponentially in your yoga practice. Remember, you might have a few misses before you get the hit. But your teacher is out there, and honestly, they’re probably searching for you, too!