Why do so many yogis/yoginis want to teach?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#5

This is interesting - I think the reason teachers teach is unique to the individual. There is a teacher for every student, and a student for every teacher. Some simply want a ‘career’ doing something they love, and others may enjoy commanding the attention of a room… For me, teaching is sharing.

Yoga is such a gift for me, and has been since i found it. I took my TTC to ensure I had a foundation from which to start teaching, and my goal is to make yoga available to all. I never want to stop learning, and see teaching as another vehicle to keep me on this path.

Teaching is my service, the reward is found in the challenges and varied experiences I encounter. I make every effort to continue to educate myself, and to provide careful instruction through courses, workshops and personal practice. Everyone is welcome to my classes: I supply mats, an environment to explore yoga and provide tea after class. Donations are welcome to help offset the rental cost (I rent hourly) but nothing is ever expected. This is my gift to the community. I’m fortunate to afford this through careful planning and money I make at my ‘day job’.

That said, so many studios seem to take the approach of offering a TTC as a stream of additional revenue. Many studios have no real application process, just an application fee. I’m not sure who would be qualified to determine who is suitable and who is not :wink: In any yoga TTC, the student will reap what they sow- good effort, application, intentional awareness will enhance a practice and help them to become a good teacher. Those who want to focus on instructions and asana to provide a yoga workout can do this as well…

#6

Speaking from a perspective of a student feeling from time to time glorious temptation of becoming a teacher: I think there is a lot of identity and peer group related reasons. Becoming a teacher is a beautiful vision of new “me” - with promises of new life, new attitudes, freedom from painful/sad past conditions. It looks like a huge boost to self-esteem - you are no longer a student on “mercy” of teachers but you become one of them, you have some authority, you become “more”. What is interesting, when I feel this temptation-inspiration, I never feel a need to work/sacrifice myself for gain of others. It is then 100% about me and 0% about others. I guess I may more seriously consider this path when I get to 50%/50%

#7

I also often wonder why people do yoga for a couple of years and then want to become teachers. I think it is because yoga has changed their lives and they want to change other peoples lives. They want to share their yoga experience.

#8

I have been doing yoga since the age of 16, intermitttently of course. Never wanted to teach…until now. For me, its all about making money; sadly. I am dead broke and in college. Yoga is something I enjoy doing and I wouldn’t mind doing yoga for pay, even if that means I’ll have to teach. The wage for being a yoga instructor, from what I know, is pretty good. Plus, if I get a job as a yoga instructor at a fitness club, I can stop paying that monthly membership without turning obese.

#9

Because when children get a new toy, they like to boast about them.

#10

[QUOTE=kht124;69907]I have been doing yoga since the age of 16, intermitttently of course. Never wanted to teach…until now. For me, its all about making money; sadly. I am dead broke and in college. Yoga is something I enjoy doing and I wouldn’t mind doing yoga for pay, even if that means I’ll have to teach. The wage for being a yoga instructor, from what I know, is pretty good. Plus, if I get a job as a yoga instructor at a fitness club, I can stop paying that monthly membership without turning obese.[/QUOTE]

Why teach yoga? You are in college, you can consider tutoring high school kids.

#11

[QUOTE=Hubert;69922]Because when children get a new toy, they like to boast about them.[/QUOTE]

Oh. I like this.

#12

@JSK
How could one be a teacher without first being a student?

#13

By the same token in which a poor student becomes a poor teacher.

#14

I occasionally kick around the idea of doing a teacher training course - but I have absolutely no interest in teaching. I just find that I want to learn more and I have had little success in the past finding a teacher who either has the knowledge base or wants to share their knowledge so I feel I need to pursue information on my own.

As with everything - there are poor teachers and good teachers and plenty in between.

I find I’m sorta with Pawel on this also…if I did teacher training, it would be for me - not others. Selfish? Not necessarily. Perhaps just honest in where I am.

#15

I recently met a young 24 year old who wants to teach at my studio. On first blush, it seemed that she couldn’t be a student for a half hour (turned out she’s been practicing her whole life as her mother is a teacher). I agreed to put her on my sub list and invited her to our monthly group practice. Often we take turns leading, and I called on her to lead. She blew us all away. Not only with her confidence and knowledge, but with how she went much deeper than the asana and grounded us with breath and patience.

You never know sometimes. I’m finding a place for this teacher, without a doubt.

#16

teaching is appealing to many people who simply want to talk about and share their ideas and opinions; it’s also the only way to make money doing what you love.

simply put, it’s the modern form of ascetecism imho: since homelessness is illegal, and begging for food is frowned upon, many monks must teach and write books in order to remain monks in the west. that’s 1c of my 2c.

the other 1c is boring so i won’t bother you with it.

-dale

#17

I think it is not important the quantity, but quality. I mean, the person who teaches yoga may have been student too little time, but having the ability to teach because of his ability to learn quickly. If this person has given his all to learn in so little time. Obviously not all those who are students may little time have the ability to be a teacher … Is relative.

#18

haha, high school kids around my area get tutored for free. I could tutor college freshmen but wouldn’t enjoy it.

Though I want to be a yoga instructor, I don’t think I’ll do it right now though. I don’t even have time to workout, let alone, teach. Maybe in the future or during the summer. I would love to teach yoga one day though.

#19

[QUOTE=JSK;69943]By the same token, a poor student becomes a poor teacher.[/QUOTE]

Though great students do not inherently make great teachers:-)

#20

Could it be possible that some people may become “teachers” instead of “students” because they yoga is a societal fad and do not truly understand it, or see the importance of learning?:confused:

#21

Fun and Passion.

#22

In the land of the blind, one eye is king.

#23

“I mean, the person who teaches yoga may have been student too little time, but having the ability to teach because of his ability to learn quickly.”

Those who think this about themselves, are most probably not those who really learn quickly.

#24

[QUOTE=Sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalā;69997]In the land of the blind, one eye is king.[/QUOTE]

So, that makes me King? Sweet.