By Anna Ashby
In signing up for and embarking upon a yoga teacher training, the depth and breadth of this kind of venture may not be obvious; teacher trainings may only scratch the surface provoking the realisation of how little is actually known and what is actually involved. When you graduate, that feeling of being overwhelmed and unworthy can put off even the most aspiring of newly trained teachers. Self-doubt can manifest as a crippling force that stops the wish to teach in its tracks. Add to it images from social media and distorted perceptions around the look and role of the yoga teacher, and the altruistic impulse to share the essence of this profound and lifechanging practice is suppressed. For others, it may well be a lack of rigour in training or access to direct knowledge that presents a very real obstacle in teaching with confidence.
How do you develop the confidence to teach, especially as a newly qualified yoga teacher? It’s a simple question that entails a multi-faceted answer. Reflecting back over the past 20 years of teaching, I can see a number of key aspects that contribute to successful, confident teaching. If I had to boil it down to just three things, it would be this: 1) stay engaged in a process of enquiry, exploration and learning; 2) value your practice, experience and offering; 3) hold a clear and purposeful intention for your teaching ultimately wrapped in a deep and abiding sense of service.