4. Set goals and evaluate yourself fairly
As touched on earlier, YTT-certified teachers have varying intentions of how they use and put to use their training. Whether taking your last training was purely out of interest and to deepen you understanding of yoga and/or to equip you with the certification to start teaching, it is important for you to start looking at the long game. If teaching and making it your primary source of income is your goal, I recommend to start from the bottom up, making a clear list of smaller goals (class curriculum, refining your style and approach), working up to planning and conducting local workshops with time to sit down and evaluate and refine the content you are sharing. Like I learned in my most recent training, the more you learn, the more you start to question ideas and concepts and realise there is never just one answer, but rather a life-time of learning and unlearning, and tools to add to your yoga-teacher toolbox. After some years in refining your teaching and hosting workshops and retreats, you can start to plug your content and knowledge into training teachers and/or collaborating with other teachers and studios. If teaching yoga does not come attached with the responsibility of providing you or your family’s income, or you are only interested in teaching on a smaller scale, refining and developing your style still very much applies. Students will always resonate more with a teacher with a consistent voice and style, and a class that is sequenced well. And that last point is one that will hold us accountable and grounded as a good yoga teacher.
5. Continue to learn and grow
It really has never been any easier to have instant access to yoga articles, books and video/virtual material. Being somewhat old-school, most of my books and sources I have accumulated over the years are non-digital, but in more recent years I have accessed and purchased online courses to keep me engaged as a teacher and to accumulate new skills and knowledge.
If face-time works best for your learning style, attending or assisting workshops is another way to stay engaged and get a different or fresh perspective on teaching material.
Just because you are a yoga teacher and work independently doesn’t mean you can’t collaborate with your professional peers either. I have recently started a monthly mini study group, which really, doubles as a social hang out, but we talk about our recent lessons, sequencing successes and concerns and share insight from our own classes. You may already do this online, but if you haven’t tried it, a physical meet-up is really beneficial in an otherwise often solo hustle-bustle lifestyle.
Let me know how you go with the suggestions in the comment section xx