Building Confidence as a New Yoga Teacher: Your First Six Months
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When you first start teaching yoga, it can be a bit overwhelming. There's a lot to think about: sequencing, cueing the poses, keeping students safe, offering modifications, managing class logistics—signing people in, adjusting the room temperature, playing the music, and all those fun details.
In the beginning, teaching yoga can bring up a lot of emotions:
Nervousness and anxiety
Imposter syndrome (feeling like you’re not qualified to teach)
Self-doubt
Worrying about what others think of you
Being hard on yourself when you mess up
Needing to learn more about poses, pacing, and sequencing
Wondering when things will get easier or if you want to keep teaching
Navigating different cultures at various studios or spaces where you teach
But fear not! The journey of becoming a yoga teacher is well worth the challenges. If you’re a newly graduated teacher trainee, here are a few helpful tips.
EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTIC VOICE
As you start teaching, it’s natural to feel like you need to emulate your favorite teachers or fit a certain stereotype for yoga teachers. While it’s great to learn from others, remember that your unique voice is what will truly resonate with your students. Speak from your heart, share your experiences, and let your personality shine through. Your authenticity will build a genuine connection with your students and foster a supportive learning environment.
FOCUS ON CONNECTION, NOT PERFECTION
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to deliver the perfect class. Instead, focus on connecting with your students. Notice how your words land. Are students responding well to your cues? Do they seem engaged and comfortable? Building a strong connection with your students is more important than delivering a flawless class. This connection will help you feel more at ease and confident as a teacher.
CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION
The learning doesn’t stop once you graduate from your teacher training program. Continue to educate yourself on anatomy, philosophy, and different teaching methods. Attend workshops, read books, and take classes from experienced teachers. The more knowledge you have, the more confident you’ll feel in your teaching abilities.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK
Feedback is a valuable tool for growth. On days when you feel receptive, ask your students for feedback. Questions like “How does your body feel?” or “Did the pacing of the class work for you?” can provide insightful information. Remember to approach feedback with an open mind and use it as a tool to enhance your teaching practice. And always remember, if it’s not a good day for you to receive feedback, you can politely decline it or file it away mentally for another time when you’re feeling more open to constructive criticism!
PRACTICE SELF-COMPASSION
Be kind to yourself during this journey. Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Instead of being hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned, view these moments as opportunities for growth. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and remember that every teacher started exactly where you are now.
BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK
Surround yourself with supportive peers and mentors. Having a community of fellow teachers can provide encouragement, advice, and a safe space to share your experiences. Your support network can help you navigate the challenges of teaching and celebrate your achievements along the way.
STAY PRESENT
Teaching yoga requires a balance of planning and being present in the moment. While it’s important to have a class plan, be flexible and responsive to the needs of your students. Staying present allows you to adapt your teaching to the energy and dynamics of the class, creating a more meaningful and effective experience for your students.
CELEBRATE YOUR JOURNEY
Remember that becoming a confident yoga teacher is a journey, not a destination. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Each class you teach, each student you connect with, and each moment of self-discovery is a step forward. Trust in your path and know that with time, experience, and dedication, your confidence will continue to grow.
TO ALL THE NEW YOGA TEACHERS...
When I first started teaching, I experienced a TON of anxiety. I'd get nervous before every class and have this immense resistance. 😱
"I don't want to teach" and "I don't know what I'm doing" were two big, overwhelming, recurring thoughts. I worried that my words would not be clear enough or accurate enough to keep my students safe. I wasn't sure about my voice. I wanted to be meticulous and precise. Really, I wanted my cues to be perfect.
But in the beginning, teaching yoga has to be messy. It's only when you allow yourself to be vulnerable and fumble over your words that you're able to cultivate the creativity and openness you need in order to find your way. 🤙
There's a sweet spot between finding enough structure—planning your classes, knowing what you want to say—and also pairing that with a 'F*** IT, I'VE GOT THIS' approach. You want to be prepared but also trust your class and give them the freedom to figure it out. Trust, above anything, yourself.
There's a balance of memorization and present-moment awareness. Falling back on your training and also noticing what's going on in the room. Stepping up to do your best, and also surrendering the desire to control. 🙏💛
If you're in a space of resistance, please know that you're not alone. If you're questioning whether you're "good enough" as a yoga teacher, know that you are. You always have been. The moment you chose the path of sharing your practice in this way, your goodness expanded. Your energy moved. Your practice evolved.
You became a teacher in that moment. Now, you're just refining how and why you do what you do. It's all already perfect.
🔥🔥🔥
If you're struggling to find the right words, or need help with planning your classes, I'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, here are some resources that I hope you find helpful:
Grounding mantras to help you keep your cool before and during class
Thank you to all the new yoga teachers.
Teach yoga with confidence using the Power Yoga Script!
This yoga class script PDF is a full guide that details exactly what to say for your next class, start to finish.
Ideas for how to start yoga class as a teacher
What to say during Savasana at the end of yoga class
Precise cues for over 50 poses included in a Power Vinyasa Sequence
Sanskrit posture names including phonetic spelling for how to pronounce them
This 45-page document includes detailed instructions for how to cue yoga poses and can be modified to create a:
60 minute yoga sequence script
75 minute yoga sequence script
or even a 90 minute yoga sequence scripts
If you’re struggling with yoga sequencing or yoga sequencing lesson plans, this script is for you.
This yoga class script can help you improve your cues, build your confidence, and discover the sequencing and pacing that will define your unique style as a teacher. Transition smoothly from yoga teacher training (YTT) into any teaching environment.
The sequencing follows the Baptiste power vinyasa yoga methodology including the following sections:
Integration (Presence)
Awakening (Sun Salutations)
Vitality (Warrior Series)
Equanimity (Balance Series)
Grounding (Triangle Series)
Igniting (Backbending Series)
Stability (Abdominal Series)
Opening (Hip Series)
Release (Forward Bending Series)
Rejuvenation (Inversion Series)
Deep Rest (Surrender to Gravity Series)
The yoga class teaching script includes:
Introductions
Warm ups
Sun salutations
Warrior poses
Balancing poses
Triangle series
Backbending
Abs and core work
Hips
Forward bending
Inversions
Cool down and savasana
Precise cues, smart sequencing, and ideas for how to start and end the class in an engaging and authentic way. Walk into class feeling empowered and prepared to deliver a kick-ass yoga experience to your students.
Here’s what yoga teachers are saying about the POWER YOGA SCRIPT:
“This definitely helped me improve my flow with teaching asana after my teacher training.” -Donita, Vinyasa yoga teacher
”I love how you laid this script out. I felt confused and scattered as I was working on my classes and this helped me save time in the process. Thank you!” -Keyla, yin yoga teacher
“I’ll be honest: when I got done with my 200-hour training, I felt totally lost. I mean, my trainers went over all the poses but as soon as I’d get in front of the room, the words just weren’t there. I felt so stuck. This book helped me build my confidence and doing some memorization so I wasn’t always so terrified to teach.” -Beth, power vinyasa teacher
