As I embark on the exciting journey of the 200 hour yoga teacher training course, it finally sank in that I will be qualified to teach and conduct a yoga class really soon (cross-fingers!). This has made me recall the many yoga teachers I’ve had encountered in the past 1.5 year of practicing yoga. Some of them have left a really good impression on me. Here are the top 3 attributes I have seen from these inspirational teachers which I certainly hope to emulate!
1. Approachable
Firstly, I would like to be the sort of teacher whom students feel they can approach easily, whether it is to find out more about the asanas to anything outside of yoga. I would like to be a teacher who is accessible to my students both inside and outside of class. I also love going to classes where the teacher lets her personality shine through, where she would share enough of her personal life to connect with the students, but of course never make class all about them.
2. Motivational
I have had the good fortune of meeting teachers who have not failed to motivate me in every class of theirs’. Some motivate me by sharing bite-size inspirational quotes, and remind me of them at the start and at the end of the class. They convey these inspirational messages in such a way that encourages me and makes me feel like they actually care about the students. Some motivate me by remembering my strengths and weaknesses, and constantly give me tailored advice to help me improve.
I hope to be a teacher who can engage with the students and let them feel that I care and wish to make a difference.
3. Competent
Lastly, I want to be a teacher who demonstrates preparedness. At the best of my abilities, I hope to always give time and thought to how I am going to lead a class. I believe this will result in a better experience for the students. I also aim to be knowledgeable enough to be able to explain things such as the medical benefits of postures, to offer variations for people with injuries or limitations. By demonstrating knowledge, I hope to gain credibility and trust of the students.
– Rachel
