Entering the world of yoga teaching presents many interesting challenges. When you are a teacher, even as a yoga student, you never end your learning journey. This unique connection between teaching and continuous learning is difficult to navigate. New teachers often find it difficult to balance their personal practice with their lesson plans, and even more experienced teachers may find that they put their practice aside when they are overwhelmed by their own commitments. While finding the balance isn’t always easy, there are some rules you can live by carefully to prioritize your personal practice and allow yourself to continue learning as you embark on the journey that others can teach.
insist on exercising at home
insist on exercising at home
If you take classes in the same studio where you teach, insisting on practicing at home can help you separate your teaching/work life from your student/personal practice life. Just as working from home can blur the lines between your work and personal life, simply practicing in the same studio where you teach can blur the lines between student life and faculty life. This in turn may mean that you as a student cannot fully concentrate on your practice, as “teacher mode” may still be active when you are in the studio. You may still want to take classes in your own studio, but consistent practice at home can help you add variety to your routine, focus and break out of routine.
In addition to allowing you to separate work and personal life, practicing at home also allows you to be flexible with your schedule. Yoga teachers often juggle other jobs or commitments in addition to their classes, so scheduled classes at a studio can be difficult. By having the opportunity to practice at home—whether through the sequence you follow in your own classes or online—you can ensure that you remain committed to your journey as a yoga student.
Keep in mind that these exercises don’t always have to be intense and physically demanding. Becoming a yoga teacher doesn’t mean always being 100% and trying the most challenging levels of each pose. Remember that yoga involves listening to your body and honoring the needs of that moment.
Don’t Build Sequences in Your Home Practice Room
Don’t Build Sequences in Your Home Practice Room
Your home gym should feel relaxing and rejuvenating. When you are in this space, you should be work-agnostic and your focus should be strictly inward, on your personal practice and journey as a yoga student. If you get into the habit of creating the sequences you teach in your home practice room, you can have the same effect described above, creating a blur between student and teacher.
If you have your own practice room at home, don’t make it your home workspace. As you create lessons for your classroom, move to a different location in your home. Of course, securing multiple yoga spots can be tricky when you’re working in a smaller house or apartment, so see what other options you have. Take your productions to your local park, gym, or try creating sequences while the studio you teach is empty. This will help keep your work life separate from your personal practice space.
By practicing at home, you will inevitably find inspiration for your lessons. Keep a notebook at this point so you can jot down these thoughts as they arise. This way you can continue your practice and bring up the idea later when you are in a teaching mindset rather than practice mode.
Make a weekly plan
Make a weekly plan
Planning your week will help ensure you have time to move on the mat. Life can get overwhelming, and having a road map can help you stay on track with practices and other commitments. At the start of the week, use a physical planner or calendar app to jot down classes you teach, classes you plan to take, time to practice at home, and any other commitments you have made. Having a picture of your week in front of you will give you a better idea of when to practice so you won’t find out by the end of the week that you never took the time to practice the mats. Do your best to stick to your schedule strictly, with a special emphasis on making time for personal practice, whether at home or in the studio.
However, leave some room for spontaneity
However, leave some room for spontaneity
While a schedule can help you stay on top of things, it’s inevitable that some things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes your day doesn’t end the way you thought it would at the beginning of the week – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing! Be prepared to go with the flow and adapt to any changes in your schedule. To maintain fitness and flexibility while practicing, keep a lighter travel yoga mat in your car or office so you can practice on the go when things don’t go as planned. Even if your week does go according to plan, use a mat if you spontaneously feel the urge to practice when you’re out and about. Being flexible expands your options and allows you to practice in unforeseen circumstances.
Find courses outside the studio you teach
Find courses outside the studio you teach
Chances are you already have a relationship with your peers in the studio (or studios) where you teach and want to support both