Hi- I was wondering if you have any advice for a person who wants to teach yoga, but that, by nature, is not that flexible. I was a dancer all of my young life for 12 years and still couldn’t ever reach a certain point in my flexibility. Do you think a teacher would be looked down upon for that? I’m asking because I have never really come across a teacher who isn’t flexible, so I am afraid of not being taken seriously. Thanks![B][/B]
If your understanding of Yoga is that it is flexibility then likely no, you would not be able to teach flexibility without having experienced it. Likewise if you are attracting students who think that Yoga is flexibility you may also find them responding to your lack thereof in various “ways”.
However we know from the study of Yoga that it has far more to do with flexibility of mind than it does flexibility of body. The physical body just happens to be the layer of existence most easily identified with since it is visible and palpable.
Teaching yoga is a transmission of Yoga to student and the teacher is merely a conduit or tube through which that wisdom may pass. Energetically students will feel or sense whatever the teacher is holding. If that is ego or worry or stress, or insecurity - it will all be transmitted. It is for this reason that that the teacher of yoga must do their own work. But that work is the work of self-study, effort, surrender, cleanliness, contentment…that is the stuff of teaching yoga. Hamstrings are merely the bait.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;45655]If your understanding of Yoga is that it is flexibility then likely no, you would not be able to teach flexibility without having experienced it. Likewise if you are attracting students who think that Yoga is flexibility you may also find them responding to your lack thereof in various “ways”.
However we know from the study of Yoga that it has far more to do with flexibility of mind than it does flexibility of body. The physical body just happens to be the layer of existence most easily identified with since it is visible and palpable.
Teaching yoga is a transmission of Yoga to student and the teacher is merely a conduit or tube through which that wisdom may pass. Energetically students will feel or sense whatever the teacher is holding. If that is ego or worry or stress, or insecurity - it will all be transmitted. It is for this reason that that the teacher of yoga must do their own work. But that work is the work of self-study, effort, surrender, cleanliness, contentment…that is the stuff of teaching yoga. Hamstrings are merely the bait.[/QUOTE]
This is a great response! I know personally I’ve always more enjoyed learning anything from an instructor who is an example of the process and not the goal, I’d rather study with someone who has surmounted the hurdles that I’m facing & whose not just a “natural”.
[QUOTE=hnonnac;45649]Hi- I was wondering if you have any advice for a person who wants to teach yoga, but that, by nature, is not that flexible. I was a dancer all of my young life for 12 years and still couldn’t ever reach a certain point in my flexibility. Do you think a teacher would be looked down upon for that? I’m asking because I have never really come across a teacher who isn’t flexible, so I am afraid of not being taken seriously. Thanks![B][/B][/QUOTE]
First things first: you can not teach yoga if you think that it is about flexibility:))
Even if you were flexible. One day you will get a student that would be more flexible than you are…oops. That would be a shame! 
I’d not worry so much about [U]flexibility[/U]…since:
-you might make your student feel even better that they perform better.
- teach them what you know - they will appreciate it.
- you can feel what they feel. Since more people are not flexible. (For me it is hard to advise on certain poses since i happen to be very flexible and I have no clue what others can feel any stretch in Pashimotanasana
You will be fine! Good luck to you on your teaching path!