What Do I Look For in a Yoga Teacher?

When I reflect on the truly outstanding teachers that I have been lucky enough to experience, the single quality that stands out is how they held space for every person, and every part of every person. They were watching the students rather than performing from the front, and they were keenly observant. I felt that these teachers truly saw me, and they welcomed every part - the aches and pains as well as the energy and vitality, the grief and meanness as well as the positive energy and warmth, the busy mind as well as the stillness. Their adjustments were sensitive and allowed me to go deeper. Because I felt that they truly saw me and what they saw was welcome, I could accept myself with compassion too. They held space for whatever emotion might arise in me to be felt and named.

I've always looked for teachers who honour the roots of yoga, and teach yoga as a meditative practice rather than a fitness class. They use chants and mudras (gestures) to bring focus. They encourage the class to pay mindful attention to breath and sensations, rather than simply encouraging acrobatic postures. Sometimes simple is best; small, gentle movements can release more tension that big powerful postures, if performed with awareness. There is time for meditation as well as movement. A skilful teacher weaves their understanding of yoga philosophy into how they teach, helping the students to become more self-compassionate, self-aware and connected.

I love to come back to basics and practice the core pranayama (breath practices) and asana (postures) because every time, they are different. Familiar poses allow a depth of mindfulness to emerge. But I also like teachers who bring something new and fresh, a new movement, a different way of approaching a pose, a different way to link poses together or a new meditation practice. Something fresh can open up a new release.

I want to feel challenged, but I also want to feel there are different options available if something doesn't suit my body or my energy levels. And I want that teacher to present all those options as equally valuable, rather than praising those who can contort their body into complicated shapes. In my perfect class, every person is taking their own variations and I feel free to do this too. A great teacher will give their students the tools and confidence to do this safely.

When I started out attending yoga classes, it never occurred to me to ask what qualifications or training a yoga teacher had, but these days I seek out teachers who have invested in their own training and CPD (continuous professional development), because this generally means they have spent more time reflecting on and refining their teaching, getting feedback from experienced teachers (and their students). They are also more likely to have a deeper knowledge of the practice of yoga, and to be exposed to new ideas that keep their teaching fresh. They are more likely to be skilled to make yoga accessible for people who come to classes with a range of health issues and injuries.

I realise I sound hard to please! And having said all this, it's also true that there is something of value in nearly every yoga class if approached with an open and questioning mind. There are lots of compassionate and competent yoga teachers around. It's very rare that I have not come out of a yoga class feeling better than when I went in!