holistic self
how to find the right yoga teacher
By Pamela Grubb
Prospective students inquire about my yoga classes asking “How much do your classes cost?” I respond with, “I’ll be happy to discuss cost, but don’t you want to know about the teacher and style that is taught?”
Literature says the average yoga student looks for a class within two blocks of their home. One should determine what they’re looking for from yoga, their instructor, and studio or gym. Let the following guide you in choosing a teacher.
Ask yourself - Why do I want to take a yoga class? What do I want to get from a class? Do I want to relieve stress, heal from an injury, or gain strength and flexibility? These are important questions that will help you find the most appropriate style of yoga, the right teacher for yourself and meet your needs to help you begin a yoga practice. If you are looking for stress relief and to learn how to relax, a class that is fast paced and very physically challenging is not for you.
If you are a beginner student, consider finding a class where the teacher goes slowly and explains how to get into and out of postures with the correct use of diaphramic breathing.
If you have yoga experience, look for a teacher that lives their yoga with many years experience. Make sure the teacher continues to take classes from someone trained by a reputable foundation or program that is nationally or internationally recognized. This will allow the teacher to assist you in deepening your practice by helping you move your focus inward into the areas of your body that need your attention.
Other questions to ask:
What is the background of the teacher, how long has the teacher practiced yoga, how long have they been teaching, and what style is taught? Does the teacher teach in other locations? Does the teacher walk around and adjust students? What is the focus of the class? Is the class a stretch class, focusing on moving from one pose to the next? Do they take time to focus on breathing so you can move into tightness to release into relaxation?
Ask if they are Yoga Alliance certified, how large the classes are, the length of class and if the teacher or studio supplies the mat, blankets, blocks, straps, bolsters, etc. or do you need to bring your own?
Since each student of yoga comes with unique issues of body & mind and may need to pose differently from another student in the same class, having a teacher who knows the benefits and contraindications of each pose is important. Can the teacher modify the pose for you, or help you to determine if you should not do the pose at all? Maybe another pose should be substituted that will be more beneficial for you. Finding a teacher who can provide information about how each pose relates to your physical condition is critical.
A teacher who understands anatomy can reduce suffering or pain in the days after class or prevent an injury. A good teacher will alert new students to the sensations they may feel following the class.
I began yoga as an out of shape teenager in high school in the 1970s. As an adult, I had issues with my shoulders and pelvis that led me to chiropractic care. Teachers did not discuss anatomy nor was my body open enough to truly understand what the teachers were talking about to unlock my tightness. It took several chiropractors and much soul searching in yoga to realize my problem was the structure of my body. Instead of attempting to get into the most advanced modification possible in a pose, I began to go back to the basic posture and learn the proper alignment of the pose for my body. This meant understanding anatomy and the posture itself, along with how to breathe into the pose.
Once you decide on a yoga class, consider the following:
Talk with the teacher about any health conditions you have - no matter how minor. Poses affect bodies in different ways and each student is unique. If a new student leaves
feeling yoga is not for them, it could be a communication issue.
Once you find a teacher, it is best to study with that teacher for a period of time. Resist the urge to be a yoga junkie, going to different teachers in the same period of time. This can confuse the student, since teachers teach differently. By studying with one teacher it gives the teacher time to know you and tailor postures and instructions to suit your needs.
Once in a class, never perform any posture in class that feels like ‘bad pain’ especially in the knees, lower back and neck. If you have not exercised in a while, know that you will feel some discomfort, or, what in yoga is called ‘heightened awareness’, in places like the back of your legs, groin, and shoulders. It is important to discuss any discomfort with the teacher.
After class, think about whether you enjoyed the class. Was the teacher friendly, encouraging, and supportive? Did the teacher treat you with respect and courtesy? A good instructor makes the class feel secure and peaceful with a sense of community and belonging.
Quality yoga instruction can be very important for you in your yoga journey. By keeping these ideas in mind when you search for a yoga teacher, you are more likely to find the one that is right for you.
 Pamela Grubb is founder/owner of Mindful Yoga Studio in Kenosha, WI. She has been studying yoga since 1975. Her background is in rehabilitation and
working with students with health-related issues. She can be reached at (262) 859-2151, emailed at
pamela@yogainmind.com or visit her
website at www.yogainmind.com.
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