Choosing a yoga instructor essentially comes down to what is right for you and your needs. Each yogi is on their own journey and each will choose a teacher that helps make the journey a little easier. With that said, there are a few criteria that every yoga teacher should be able to meet.
Choosing a Yoga Instructor
A good yoga instructor will help you deepen your practice with every class. The role of an instructor is not simply to give orders but to help you grow. This could take the form of improving your alignment or adjusting your posture, or it could take the form of listening and supporting you to empower your practice. Some of the most important things that every instructor should offer include the following:
Gentle guidance and support
As we mentioned above, support and guidance are vital to your practice. An instructor that does not listen or tries to force your body into poses that do not feel right is not going to help you grow. One who is gentle and supportive, on the other hand, giving advice and being there to answer questions, will always help you get the most from your classes. Yoga should be a nurturing process and your teacher should be able to help you transition through each step of your journey.
Lack of judgement
Gentle support goes hand in hand with a lack of judgement. The yoga space is never meant to be judgemental or competitive. It is not about being able to do the deepest backbend or having the most perfectly aligned handstand. Instead, it is about understanding that every yogi is different, with different limitations, different body shapes, and working at different paces.
Certification and experience
Although new instructors can bring fresh energy into classes, that should not be confused with instructors that have no experience at all. Even new instructors will have gone through extensive teacher training. This means that they are also certified to teach yoga. Without experience and certification, you will be risking injury and other potential problems. Your health and wellbeing are too important to take that risk.
At House of Yoga, our teachers are all fully qualified and experienced, bringing a range of skills to our classes. You can view each teacher’s profile on our website to learn more about each instructor. Another way to find an instructor that you feel a connection with is to try a few classes.
Get in touch with us to learn more about our studio or make your booking now to experience a class with one of our yoga teachers.
