Yoga teachers UNITE

I have been hearing a lot of talk lately whether on Facebook or just with friends I know in the yoga community about what does or doesn't make a good yoga teacher. Some people say creative and safe sequencing, advanced physical practice, attention to alignment are important in class. Some say a teacher who is spiritual and compassionate, and gives them a daily dose of insight. Some say just a teacher who looks hot and plays good music, a teacher you can have fun with in class.

All of this tells us that everyone's idea of a great yoga teacher is not going to be the same. We step onto the path of yoga at different places in our lives, and we walk on this path hopefully growing and changing in our practice, both physically and spiritually. I know that all of the above has spoken to me at one time or another.

Personally, I am in a place where I have done a good dose of spiritual work on my own, and with the help of some incredible teachers. I enjoy a creative sequence that challenges me and accesses new places in my body that I connect to through my breath. I don't care so much about good music (though it can help) or flow, or a teacher who is fun, but a teacher who guides me safely and is compassionate and confident in what they are teaching me. I am at a point in my practice where the teacher is truly myself. The teacher at the front of the room is not a god or goddess to me, but an inspiration. Some teachers are more inspiring to me than others, but this doesn't mean that whoever is teaching doesn't have worth in my eyes. When your practice becomes your practice, you can take with whomever and enjoy your class. You'll have your favorites but you won't judge the first time teacher who's leading you through a basic flow and probably nervous as all hell - cause I have been that teacher! You also won't judge that teacher who doesn't give you a dose of spirituality cause you got that all taken care of by yourself - you don't need someone else to make you feel inspired or happy.

The physical practice of yoga has been my connection to something deeper. The breath and challenge of more advanced postures has made me understand patterns of holding in my body, and ultimately patterns of holding within myself. I don't go in expecting this or that, but when something incredible happens, like when I was able to touch my foot to my head in pigeon the other day, the feeling was amazing. Not so much a feeling of accomplishment, but a feeling of elation, joy. Something shifted within me to make this possible. And yes, I look forward to the day I can balance in the middle of the room in handstand - cause I believe it will happen! My spiritual work is more my own now - listening, observing and being with what shows up for me in class as I breath, and I don't need a daily dose of spirituality to get there.

I think so many of us as yoga teachers eventually start to feel entitled and feel we can judge what makes a great teacher. It's all a matter of opinion. All we can do is teach authentically, with honesty. I know when a teacher gets under my skin so to speak it's something for me to look at. Why does it bother me this teacher has a larger class than mine? Why does it bother me this teacher can jump into crow and I can't? Why does it bother me this teacher is being raved about by someone and it's not me they are raving about?

I am the teacher who's continued practicing at a yoga studio after I had taught there and was told I wasn't a good fit. I am the teacher who practiced at a place I loved even though I could go for free elsewhere and eventually ended up teaching at this place. I am the teacher who has upset or had words with other teachers and then shows up to take their class. I have guts and heart. I challenge myself both physically and spiritually because I know that is the only way I am going to grow. Sometimes that challenge resides in less, sometimes it resides in more. We are here to be the human examples of change. Through this change is our potential, our purpose. So I am giving the shout out, yoga teachers UNITE. Quit your bitchin.