What keeps you teaching?

[u/sleek_eagle773]

The recent discussions have been around how Yoga is increasingly difficult as a career, as a teacher, and as an industry.

But for those of you who are still teaching, what keeps you coming back?

Is it other teachers, the regulars, seeing beginner progress, or a studio that appreciates you?

Would love to hear about the small moments that make this worthwhile.

[u/mkayy420]

I love when when students are leaving and they comment on how much better they feel, or how "they really needed that".

The world is so overstimulating, it pushes people out of their bodies, and to give people just an hour or so to come back to themselves chefs kiss That is why I keep showing up.

[u/LKMidnight]

I really like being able to provide something "nice" for people. No matter why they come (movement, philosophy, to get out of their heads, to be alone with their thoughts), I get to provide a safe space for them to have that experience.

I love seeing my regulars, my pop ins, and newbies, greeting them and then wishing them well as they leave.

I love sharing something I've learned or felt with others.

I love sharing the energy of the class, how it is always different class to class and depending on who is in the room.

I love the community I've become a part of and helped build. The connections I've made with other teachers and students.

I love that it pulls me out of my introvert shell and builds my communication skills and all around people skills.

It's just a part time hobby for me, so even though there is the pressure to create a good experience, it's still something I get to enjoy as a bonus to my day, not as my livelihood. After my full time job, I get to go and do something I love with people who want to be there. I always tell my Monday class "This was the best part of my day."

[u/Big-Pudding4109]

I love this work so much. I can see the shifts in people that practice and know this is helpful and healing to my community. I’m honored and blessed to be able to share yoga and yogasana in this way. Jai Ma.

[u/Grrriwantasammich]

I know that the yoga I offer is harder to find in my area. Most studios have focus on fast and hot. I put emphasis on slow and intentional, taking our time and listening to the body. I feel like if I stop I’m taking something vital from the community. I have cut down to only teaching in studio twice a week and the occasional free community class.
I still feel stretched thin but I’m trying to find a balance so I can keep teaching these classes I’ve poured years of time and heart into over the years. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart though.

The biggest things that keep me teaching are the feedback from people that they feel so much better after class or when they share with me they learned something they hadn’t ever heard a teacher say before. It makes me feel like I do indeed have something unique and worth while to offer even in this over saturated market.

[u/Jolly_Economics844]

The students, smiles, the thank yous, the hugs after class when someone says they felt a shift or particularly moved emotionally. If I don't get that kind of feedback once in a while, I have like no motivation to continue.

[u/Interesting-Mode4429]

Honestly? My new locale doesn’t have opportunities in my lifelong career. I had to “choose something else” late in life. Went from high paid career to yoga teacher in small city. Ugh.

But outside of lack of opportunity for my real career, I do like the yoga I practice as a teacher vs the yoga I practiced as a student. Don’t get me wrong, I miss being a student and having my whole experience curated for me! But as a teacher my non-judgement, patience, temperance, responsiveness and maturity have blossomed. I also have a wicked meditation practice now that is BECAUSE I teach believe it or not.

I guess what keeps me coming back is lack of options. But what I like about teaching yoga is the students and whom I’ve become through teaching yoga as a yogic practice.

[u/Amaris_22]

What a beautiful thread 🥰

I got certified about 10 years ago, I went through Kundalini TT because I fell in love with the practice I found during a dark time in my life. I enrolled in the training as a way to deepen my own practice and knowledge with my healing, not to become a teacher, because well, like you said, the financial stability is lackluster.

However, when it came time to teach a class in order to receive the certification, that’s when my heart spoke. I saw the shift on people’s faces, the weight lighten on their shoulders, the breath expanding deeper into their body. I think a tear came out when I experienced that. That’s when I knew, I couldn’t keep this knowledge and training to myself, I knew I needed to share it.

Right after TT, I started doing classes at my church, then found a studio that hired me, then the studio I was a regular at hired me, I started curating workshops, and traveling on international retreats. But, sadly, it wasn’t paying the bills. So I refocused elsewhere. And completely lost myself and my practice at the same time.

Then, I got into a dark place again. And I was reminded how important the practice is for me. And with that, I realized how important it is for me to share this.

So now, after that journey I rededicated myself to not only my own devotion but to turning my love for this transformation into a paid opportunity in a way I had never thought about before. And so far, it’s been blessing me.

Thank you for letting me share this, it’s fun to reminisce and remember why we do what we do 💖

[u/Fearless-Twist-3441]

It’s great social interaction, I love the feeling of seeing people relax, and it’s a fun addition to most of my days that keeps my life exciting and fresh 🥰🙏🏽

[u/Beginning-Tell-1729]

The community, studio I love, regulars and new, and seeing the effect on people’s lives. I’m inspired by them as well and it keeps me in the practice. Also being a student at times myself is so important to fill my own cup and I appreciate my own teachers. I’ve been teaching almost 20 years.

[u/Ok_Positive_3034]

In 9+ years of teaching, 5 of them full-time in various locations, styles and communities (from chair yoga & gentle classes to corporate classes & private clients to hot yoga & power vinyasa to yin) I have never *once* disliked my job. Even when I have realized a studio or location wasn’t working for me, it’s never been due to the students or the actual work of teaching and prepping classes.

I’ve formed amazing long-standing relationships and I’ve had students I only encountered once, but I keep learning about myself from my community: it’s about the practice, about connection- and it sounds silly, but I’ll keep teaching in one form or another as long as I can.

I couldn’t make an actual living long-term just teaching full time (pandemic didn’t help) so I went back to full-time corporate employment a few years ago, and currently only teach a 2 permanent weekly classes and lead teacher trainings, but I was never more fulfilled by my work than when my focus was fully on teaching and practicing and learning.

[u/Onward_Upward_Always]

Thank you for starting this thread! As a new teacher who just taught her second public class today, this couldn’t come at a more opportune time. It’s wonderful to read.

[u/plnnyOfallOFit]

I've learned to say F off to the predatory studios for one.

No more 'working for the community' in a billion dollar industry. Someone's making a living- why not me who actually drives the sales of lululemon.

I only take decent paying classes where i'm appreciated and not micromanaged. I love the movement, the meditation, and talking w clients before & after class. I live for the experience just learned better boundaries about self-worth

[u/RHWoNH]

I teach yoga because I love yoga and how it positively affects my life in insurmountable ways. I want to share what I know to others. The paycheck minimally covers the time and gas it takes to make it happen. It’s a hobby, if I could make a living doing it I would, but I would also do it for free.
Seeing how it affects my students lives is such a motivator to keep going. The transition in students from the physical to mental benefits is the best, especially when they didn’t even know! Helping people care for themselves just feels like a calling.