How Yoga Has Made Me a Better Teacher (and Human)

Research shows that teachers take on the trauma their students experience, and it can show itself in multiple ways. We can lose sleep, become negative or “burnt out” at times, or we can feel completely overwhelmed. Teachers need to care for themselves at th risk of becoming depressed or ineffective. The best way that I have learned to take care of myself is with yoga.

I've been practicing yoga on and off for about four years. I started getting into yoga via YouTube (I have specific recommendations of amazing YouTube instructors below), but it wasn't until I started a work exchange at a local studio that I started to see the true benefits of a consistent practice. I got into this program as a way to get out of the house in the summer, and I haven't looked back. It wasn't until the school year started back up that I noticed a difference in myself. Attending 2-4 yoga classes a week has made me a happier and healthier teacher/human. 

The number one difference I've noticed is in my overall health. For my entire life, I've been a severe seasonal allergies sufferer, but this year was different. Whenever I started feeling the onset of congestion or the sniffles, it seemed to be chased away after a couple of classes. 

I open the studio for a 6 am class on Tuesdays, and one Tuesday a couple of weeks ago, I woke up with an intense sinus headache and nausea. I made it to the studio and got everything open, but I told the instructor, "I'm going to try to take the class, but I might just lay on my mat and breathe for an hour." I definitely started out that way, and I was not 100% for that class, but after a few down dogs and some deep breathing, I was able to make it through the rest of the day much better than I would have without yoga.

Besides being sick less often, which any human can appreciate, a consistent yoga practice has also helped me have more energy and patience as a teacher. Unfortunately, there can be a lot of negative energy among colleagues at times. Having a commitment and activity separate from that is beneficial in and of itself. Time on my mat separates me from the whirlwind and negativity that surrounds the job. Sometimes I do catch myself running through my to do list during shavasana, but the practice keeps me from being carried away in the drama.

Additionally, being a student in my practice keeps me grounded in that perspective. I have my favorite instructors and take notice of the things that do that make them my favorites. I notice things like the tone of voice, their message (or lack of one), and the balance of satisfying and frustrating poses. I didn't start to do this intentionally, but I do carry my thoughts about my favorite classes and instructors with me when I am leading my English classes.

Yoga is extremely expensive. I would not be going to several classes a week if it wasn't for my work exchange program. Different studios do work exchange differently, but it's worth checking into. At my local studio, I get unlimited free classes for working two classes a week (it is also great accountability for me, since I can take the classes that I work). 

If you do not have a local studio or if work exchange is not available to you, these YouTube rock stars are the ones who got me into yoga:

Bad Yogi

Yoga with Adrienne

Yoga by Candace

For some people, yoga doesn’t do it. Maybe for you, it’s running or church or journaling or all of the above. Whoever you are, though, if you are a teacher, you have to have self care routines. Self care is so much more than occasionally justifying spending money you don’t have at Target. Taking care of myself helps me take care of my students with more balance and commitment than ever before.

Namaste. ✌