Hi everyone, I’ve been practicing yoga for about 4 years and have dreamed of becoming a yoga teacher. I’ve been going back and forth about it for years though, because I’m really shy. All through college and high school I would freak out if I ever had to give a presentation or do any type of public speaking. My heart rate would speed up and my face would turn red and I’d forget what I was trying to say. I’m good in a one-on-one setting and feel like a natural teacher in that environment; I love to help people. I’ve just bit the bullet and signed up for a TTC. I’m really excited but also so nervous and wondering if this is a feasible option for me! Is it possible to have a yoga career only giving private classes (I would prefer this)? Or can I beat this anxiety? Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?
Hi and welcome!
That sounds to a kind of phobia. Phobias are cured exposing oneself to the cause of them until they disappear. For example, if you were rat-phobic, you would be cured sharing a room with a bunch of nice, fat rats for some hours. That simple.
Do you practice pranayama, meditation?
I have the same fear of public speaking or at least I did. My advice is to practice talking or reading out loud to yourself and don’t worry about the outcome of words, just say them, breathe, and maybe try not let yourself stress out, stay humble. best of luck.
Greetings and welcome!
Most teachers start off a bit nervous, which IMO is quite natural. The more you teach (and practice) you will find your voice. The trick is to “not think”. Teach what you know (very important) and from your heart. Rely less on notes and scripted dialogue. This is where nervousness sets in due to fear of forgetting something.
Practicing Nadi Shodhana before teaching helps calm the mind.
Perhaps starting off with private yoga lessons will give you the courage and strength to move on to teaching a class. Again, find and be your voice.
Best of luck!
Wonderful that you are taking the step to teach a class! As others have said, this will help you overcome your fear as you begin to grow more comfortable and realize that you will not totally screw everything up, that small mistakes are always overlooked (you just pick up and keep going as if the mistake had not happened), and that you are fully capable of being someone whom others can look to for instruction.
As you “practice” to get ready for your class, imagine yourself actually in the room you will be teaching in, with multiple people on yoga mats following your instructions. Go through your whole class, every movement, every step, and imagine the students there in the room with you. If you picture it, then you get your mind ready for the actual thing, which is much easier than just rehearsing in a private room talking to yourself. Trick your mind into thinking as if it’s already been there done that, and you will find it much easier than if you go into it feet first with no preparation other than your idea of how the class will go.
Muscle memory will guide you when and/or if you start to freeze up! 
I even prefer when teacher is bit shy. I don’t know how it works, but I have then much better contact with my body. In some way I feel that my body is “mine”. And this practice is “mine”. With super confident teacher I sort of disregard what my body tells me trying to follow the teacher style.
If you’ve chosen the path of Yoga (rather than merely the path of asana) and that choosing has a depth that includes teaching the practice to others…
…you’ve then chosen a path of vigilant self-examination and transformation based on that reflection, as it relates to your life’s mission or svadharma. That self-reflection (svadhyaya) is part of yama and niyama as outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
All things are feasible in Yoga; teaching only private individual sessions or dislodging at etched pattern in one’s consciousness (samskara). An appropriate yoga practice brings the practitioner to balance - in this case it would be the balance between being overly vocal and being docile.
And while there is certainly room for making choice (discernment) it is also clear that the surest way maintain stagnation is to stay within one’s comfort zone.
I’ve actually found a public yoga class is a great place to meet like minded people and talking to people which is the key to getting over shyness.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;48196]If you’ve chosen the path of Yoga (rather than merely the path of asana) and that choosing has a depth that includes teaching the practice to others…[/QUOTE]
Do you think so? That everyone on the path of yoga is called to teach? Interesting!
Well, I was absolutely terrified to teach. I found during Teacher Training that teaching in front of my peers was so so scary. I often cried all the way to Teacher Training and sometimes during (and I am really not a big crier).
Some how in a moment of clarity I picked up a yoga teaching job. I was nervous, really nervous. I was able to teach the class, and now I teach 10 or more classes a week. Yoga is my life and teaching it is a huge part of it. I still get nervous sometimes but, it is ok. I can deal with it.
If you scared, I beleive you are on the right path. You’ll do fine. Good luck!
Perhaps I have not been clear. I hoped the use of the conjunction “and” would indicate that two conditions needed to be met; selecting the path of Yoga and the presence of a depth which calls to teach.
I absolutely do not believe everyone on the path of yoga should teach. To the contrary. I think the decision to teach (yoga) should be taken far more seriously than it is.
Oh, right. Now that I see that ‘and’ I realize what you meant.