As yoga classes are run in a room with different peoples full of different opinions, it could sometimes be not so easy for a yoga teacher to address the need of all and still make the class boring for none. There are some important qualities of a yoga teacher has that would make the yoga session much more beneficial.
So, is it possible to be “that-yoga-teacher” who could uplift the yoga experience by making everyone comfortable, and confronting each students’ requirement? Well, it sure is possible, and all you need to do is follow some basic yoga etiquette.
While there is no clear cut distinction between good and bad traits of a yoga teacher, there are some qualities that are needed in a yoga teacher to bring the best out of all the students in general. Some of these traits come from years of practice while few can be learned just by paying attention to small details that might go unnoticed.
Best Qualities of Yoga Teacher
If you have ever had that “wow” moment in a yoga class, you probably remember the teacher who made it possible for you to have that experience. These must probably be some of the qualities in the teacher
1. Knows The Pose and Have Self Practised it Beforehand
Yoga is simply a series of poses that you have to put into the right action to get the right results. Yoga teachers sometimes stumble on a specific step in their learning carrier and these steps become building blocks to grow into a good teacher, as (not always but mostly) your students will also stumble on the same steps.
Therefore, it is your duty, as a yoga teacher, to address it beforehand and to make sure your students feel okay and not embarrassed for stumbling upon a specific step.
To know which part of the pose is tough you need to be prepared yourself first and you should have done that particular posture beforehand. Many teachers do not do the pose to master it fully and try teaching it too early.
This mistake of yours will not only make you in-confident about your teaching but also add cynicism to students, which will in-turn make them lose confidence and faith in you.
2. Checks In With all The Students
As I had mentioned earlier, every student has their own needs, and to address those needs, you must make sure to check in from time to time.
Instead of continuously giving lectures on the anatomy of the human body during the practice, it’s better to give a brief idea about the pose and check-in all students slowly to make sure they are not stumbling on a specific step.
Many students will open up to you only when you show some interest in them, that is why, you need to make sure you are paying equal interest on every student and not prioritizing a specific pupil, just because he or she is doing the pose better.
3. Is Very Punctual
Keeping track of time and doing a specific yoga at a specific time of the day is one of the most important principles of yoga, and as a yoga teacher, you need to keep this in mind.
Make sure you arrive early at your class before any other pupil and when they arrive to spend some time addressing their problem if they have any. Coming early in class will give you a chance to start the class smoothly and at the same time, it will help to develop a much-needed rapport with your students.
Always be one of those teachers who are “the first one to come to class and the last one to leave”. This quality of yours will give you a chance to interact, uplift, and even learn the basic needs of your students as you will have enough time to communicate.
4. Enjoys The Silence
Your students come to learn yoga to explore themselves by feeling their movement, keeping the pace of their breathing, and focusing on themselves. Do not destroy this experience of your students by giving them “too-much” information during practice!
Sometimes it feels that silence is awkward, but enjoying the silence and letting your student focus on their body and mind could work magically to give them the right experience of yoga that they deserve.
Not all students want to learn about human anatomy or physiology; therefore, giving a brief description and again giving them the required silence to focus, is very essential in any yoga class.
Thus, don’t be afraid of silence, try enjoying it by letting the students figure out their pace. Trust me, it won’t be awkward, just make sure your students know the process and are enjoying the flow.
“Patience” might just be a simple word but the act of being patient is very tough! As a teacher being patient and tolerating students when they repeat mistakes over and over again is very difficult. In these times, you must recall how difficult it was for you to do the step on the first try.
Moreover, not all students are quick learners, that is the reason why you cannot expect everyone to grasp the steps at once. Similarly, some students talk too much, some speak too little; some show-off, some do not even show-up regularly; some will laugh off their mistakes, while some are embarrassed when they do things wrong- see, people come in different forms, and it is your duty, as a yoga teacher, to accept everyone as they are, and teach them in a way they are comfortable. And to keep your “cool” with everyone, all you need is “patience”.
6. Empowers all The Pupils
When we do something wrong- we either become determined to never do it again or we lose confidence to do it as a whole. And most people belong to the latter group due to which they end up leaving yoga. So, as a good yoga teacher, it is your responsibility to make every student feel empowered and confident.
Sometimes, students give up because they are overwhelmed with the whole process, that is why you need to take your time to teach your pupil to get into a pose and come out of it without losing confidence. Some inspiring words could do the trick in times like this!
7. Deep Love For Yoga
If you are a yoga teacher who is teaching yoga just for the sake of earning, you might just be a yoga teacher but will never be a good yoga teacher. The love for yoga should come from within so that you can share the same love with your pupil. Sometimes, simply doing yoga with full passion and love can deeply motivate students.
Therefore, your love for yoga should be deep and your top priority, while earning by teaching yoga should always be secondary, this behaviour will help you grow and have all the best qualities of an ideal yoga teacher.
Similarly, when you love yoga, you should also have the tolerance to accept your mistake and the ability to think out of the box. As sometimes, your students could be more flexible than you, in those times if they correct you in their own ways, remember to keep your vision wide and learn whenever possible.
Teaching yoga with full passion and creating a great learning experience for your student is mesmerizing as being able to teach yoga is itself an art. Therefore, in order to be a perfectionist as an artist, you need to have these traits that will surely help you grow with all the important qualities of a yoga teacher.