You have it all figured out, the asana alignment is impeccable, Ujjayi breathe is internally audible and is not disruptive to others. Your poise during even the most trying situations in your yoga classes from snoring to gassiness are addressed with a balance of ease and discreetness. You can adjust every single body shape, size and injury to find the benefits of any posture with the plethora of props at your magical disposal! Your guided meditations at times will bring tears to your students closed eyes, and the balance of it all is your constant theme. Post class you have a line of students wanting to speak with you, to touch your hand and to say a humble thank you. Teaching yoga is all you have dreamed it could be and more.<br />
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<em>"This is life, it is raw and hard and gentle and exausting and on some days that is all before your first cup of morning detox tea! This practice is where we let all of that go."</em><br />
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<strong><em>Yet something is off.</em></strong><br />
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Practice after practice, you start to feel the pinch in your shoulder, a continual aching in your lumbar spine and you would never speak of the white hot flashes of pain in your wrists. Your patience is thin. You are cool, calm and collected externally but an erupting emotional volcano on the inside! You are tired all of the time. Driving and planning and listening and adjusting...you feel like everything is a lie! Your light within, the same one you continually cultivate in others, has become at best a flickering amber glow.<br />
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So what happened? Why is teaching yoga slowly killing you?<br />
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<strong>1. You are only demoing one side of a posture, then popping out to adjust your students for the other side, while not physically balancing yourself.&nbsp;</strong><br />
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<em>Do not demo a hipopener on one side and leave the other to adjust or&nbsp;</em><em>sciatica</em><em>&nbsp;will become your&nbsp;worst nightmare faster than you can say OM!</em><br />
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* This is awful for the muscles, tendons and joints. Symmetry is key. If you decide to demo a pose, do a shortened version and then come out to adjust as your students settle in, then demo the other side in the middle of the room so there are multiple visual angles to the desired alignment. Again come out and adjust others accordingly.<br />
* Try to not demo at all! Refine your verbal cuing and utilize arm movements and simple asana only if necessary. This one takes time. Speak clearly, tell your students what to do with intent, and you will have plenty of time to adjust. You are their teacher, they seek this confidence from you!<br />
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<strong>2. You do not make time for a personal practice.</strong><br />
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<em>Re-connect with your practice to prevent long-term yoga teaching injuries.</em><br />
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* Look, we get it. A home practice is a gift to the teacher, but a task not mastered by many. Start by adding a short meditation to your routine at bed time or heart openers in the early mornings. Add in some simple forward folds in bed, it doesn't have to be 75 minutes. 5 minutes is a great place to start. Just start!<br />
* You do not have "time" to take a class. This is inexcusable. It does not have to be often, but being a student in one of the most educational experiences for a teacher. Listen, feel, breathe and allow yourself to be pampered and guided physically and emotionally through a class experience. Yoga teachers are amazed and flattered at the attendance of a fellow teacher. It is essential to connect in person in your community and your body needs to be nurtured. Give yourself this gift.<br />
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<strong>3. You have zero balance between your personal and professional life. You say yes to every teaching offer, without considering compensation, drive time and preparation.</strong><br />
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<em>People pleasing is a very common personality trait in yoga teachers. This can go too far fast if you do not have clear boundaries.</em><br />
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* Schedule definitive days off to make family and friends a priority. Clean your space to bring calm to your surroundings.<br />
* Track your availability and learn how to balance out driving distance with the proper compensation.<br />
* Charge what you are worth and do not apologize!&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>4. You are checking your Instagram while your students are in Savassana.</strong><br />
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<em>This is an extreme example of multitasking during final relaxation, but there are some teachers who are guilty of this snafu.</em><br />
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* This kind of behavior is detrimental to your soul. You are guiding your students into a place of joy and peace and calm. This is a sacred space and your actions during this time should be of service to their and YOUR wellbeing.&nbsp;<br />
* Be there for them, find the quiet from within and share this just the same as you do your asana practice.<br />
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1. Find a comfortable seat and mindfully watch the time in a way you do not have to move a whole lot.<br />
2. Practice an aware seated meditation. Use a silent mantra to keep your mind focused.<br />
3. Offer your meditation in the form of a prayer for your students to absorb and live their practice to bring more peace into their hearts and to others.<br />
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Listen, your teachings ARE killing you and they are doing so in such a subtle way that you may not notice till you have to walk away from yoga completely. We know the debilitating physical and emotional effects of stress send many to an early grave. You came to this to help others heal, and in turn you deserve the same consideration.<br />
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Say every namaste with a clear mind and a healthy physical body by living the yoga teachings in your professional life in an authentic way. Be present, nurture yourself by practicing mindful assists to preserve your physical body. Schedule a consistent personal yoga practice, and join your students in meditation to heal the body and bring joy to the soul. Acknowledge the importance of self-care as much as you care for your students and you will happily be teaching yoga for many health filled years to come.<br />
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