What is the perfect yoga teacher? Most people have a picture conjured up in their minds of what one should look like, and after all, Instagram and Facebook have shown us thousands of photos of incredibly flexible people, performing impossible poses. But I also have noticed that there are more and more photos of yogis representing every imaginable demographic! To that I say: “Yay! Maybe we are evolving!”

 It is wonderful to see real people with varied levels of abilities being used in yoga advertisements and promotions. I believe it is more inspiring and more inclusive to show what yoga really looks like for the other 99% of us.

When watching our daughter Jessica, who has Down Syndrome, teach yoga for Yoga International on their Facebook page to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, I was reminded how each of us have something unique to share with others. Since her video aired, we have heard from people from all over the world expressing interest in her class and asking how others like her can benefit from becoming a teacher. Jessica has inspired people who may never have tried yoga if it weren’t for her!

Jessica’s courage to teach a class online had me wondering if I would have been brave enough to do that when I first started out. I have to admit that I may have never started teaching yoga if Instagram and Facebook were popular 30 years ago. Photos that show off advanced poses set up unrealistic expectations of what yoga teachers look like, and what yoga is all about. However, the pictures alone are not entirely to blame.

How did the notion that a yoga teacher must be “super human” come about? I guess, I am guilty of perpetrating the myth myself as well. Somehow, in my early days I decided that yoga teachers had perfect bodies, could perform advanced poses, were never sick, were loving and kind to everyone at all times and lived a peaceful, spiritual life. The yoga postures, meditation and new awareness that I was experiencing had such a profound impact on me that I put my teachers on a pedestal of my preconceived ideas. Of course, over the years I discovered that these ideas were not true. Yoga teachers were indeed human, even the ones who could do Lotus while in a Headstand! Fortunately, the yoga community is becoming aware of the negative impact of these contradictions. This realization is also giving the power back to yoga itself and back to the yoga practitioner.

This is why I love seeing so many new faces in the yoga world. This just means more and more groups of people are practicing yoga. People from all walks of life are now beginning to teach. It is so inspiring that courageous teachers, who until now have not fit into the norm, are springing up all over. People showing that it’s ok to be yourself, talking about their differences, being authentic, vulnerable and real. This is a good start! It shows that we are evolving. If we all can just keep doing our practice, beginners and seasoned practitioners alike, just continue to show up on the yoga mat, yoga works! Yoga teaches awareness and awareness can bring us together.

Self doubt is the biggest challenge new teachers face. The fear of not being good enough. Many yoga students back away from teaching because of distorted ideas of what a yoga teacher is supposed to be. Please do not wait to become more flexible, to lose or gain weight, to meditate, to become vegetarian or any other number of reasons why you may talk yourself out of teaching yoga. If you are practicing yoga and love how you feel, you are already a teacher – you are teaching by example. If you love yoga and have ever thought about formally teaching others, now is the time to step up. More than ever this world needs yoga and more than ever this world needs you.

And there is so much to gain personally as a yoga teacher, so many life lessons, so many wonderful experiences. You will personally thrive as you help others. One student is all you need to get you started. Just do it! If the Let It Go Yoga practice has helped you, sign up for our 8 week certified training online course. Jim and I are committed to help you with all that we can. We know that there are students out there waiting just for you – the ones that only you can reach.

YOU are the perfect picture of a yoga teacher.

Sue Anne Parsons 500 EYT, CYT – owner of Let It Go Yoga since 1986

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