You swipe right, you swipe right, and it looks like a perfect match. Who wouldn’t want to date a yoga teacher? However, before you schedule your first date, you should prepare for what you might encounter. There are many different things about dating a yoga teacher that don’t usually apply to standard jobs.
Dos and Don’ts of Dating a Yoga Teacher
you use strange words
Yoga is an ancient practice developed in India, often using Sanskrit words. It is also a lifestyle practice that encompasses not only fitness, but 8 aspects that affect interpersonal communication, philosophy, health and daily activities. Combine it with its sister science Ayurveda and other common pairings like massage, Chinese medicine and meditation techniques. When yoga teachers talk, they often refer to things like energies, doshas, yamas, niyamas, and a bunch of weird words to describe things. Sometimes they forget that the science is not well known, so ask for a translator if their jargon is confusing.
you have no money
you have no money
In a study conducted by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal, only 29% of teachers reported teaching yoga as their primary income. While there are some popular yoga teachers who make big bucks, the average yoga teacher salary is just $37,900 a year. While most yoga teachers teach primarily out of love for the community and practice, there are often financial difficulties. They often commute from studio to studio just to make ends meet. However, it’s touted as one of the best jobs in America, so hope you have a happy and healthy partner!
you can train for days or weeks
Yoga teaching begins with just 200 hours of training, and once a yoga teacher begins, many feel they are well equipped to meet the needs of the various students who take their classes. Many people, like most people in their careers, also want to be at the top of their game, making continuing education a must. For many, retaining their Yoga Alliance designation is a requirement. Many training courses are held over several days or weeks in weekend or immersion format in different parts of the world. So when your new buddy says he’s going to India to work out, he’s not kidding.
they will ask about your energy
they will ask about your energy
When it comes to energy, they don’t just talk about their energy, they talk about your energy. Don’t just ask about your basic energy level for the day like low, medium or high, ask about your subtle energies as well. Yogis tend to believe in capturing both negative and positive energies within the body, so they often ask how you are doing.
they wear yoga pants everywhere
Yoga is one of the few professions where employees feel completely at ease, whether they’re wearing stretchy yoga pants, baggy harem pants, basketball shorts or a T-shirt. They are definitely a comfortable bunch. Combined with the fact that the activewear market is still growing, yoga pants have now surpassed denim. Between their careers and society’s acceptance of the near ubiquity of yoga pants, teachers rarely wear anything other than yoga pants.
What does your house smell like…
What does your house smell like…
Essential oils, frankincense, carrier oils, flower beds, herbs, and spices are all things that many yoga teachers touch and practice on a regular basis. So it’s no surprise that they burn, diffuse, or just pile these things up in cupboards and release their aromatic scents to make your home smell like something. It can be hard to define, but hang around here long enough and you’ll start to understand what creates that particular smell. They can even make you use them yourself and become addicted.
they have different habits
Juicing, rosary beads, meditation, carrier oils, diffusing oils, journaling, chakra coloring books, vision boards—these are just some of the habits commonly spread and practiced in the yoga community. While this might seem normal to a yoga teacher, it might seem weird to the average person. Instead of making fun of or ignoring what they’re doing, most yoga teachers will love it if you ask or even offer to get involved in some weird habit with them to show that you’re interested in them.
they have weird schedules
they have weird schedules
Yoga classes can often meet the needs of professionals. Also, it’s not very common for a yoga teacher to teach 7, 8 classes in a row at one place and even make a decent amount of money. So don’t be surprised if your new prey often doesn’t make dinner or Saturday morning brunch. These are usually the busiest times for students to take classes, and often the best times for teachers to make money. They also spend a lot of time commuting between locations, so be prepared for erratic and crazy schedules. Or you may not know where they are.
no standard body type
If you read online dating profiles and think of teaching yoga as a job, don’t assume that standard body sizes exist. While magazines and social media often tout the image of yoga teachers as being super thin and youthful, this is a serious misconception that offends many yoga teachers. Yogis come in all shapes, sizes, genders, races and ages. So don’t show up to your first date with any media-based expectations.
you are socially aware
you are socially aware
Yoga is such a powerful practice because it highlights how we are all deceitful