6. Building Confidence as a Yoga Teacher with Karen Fabian

Did you know confidence as a yoga teacher is a skill you can build? It’s true—confidence isn’t an innate trait; it’s a skill developed over time, through practice, and by addressing the self-limiting beliefs that hold us back. In this episode I welcome Karen Fabian, an expert in helping yoga teachers identify and overcome the mental barriers that impact their teaching presence. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome or worried about “getting it right” in front of your students, this conversation offers practical strategies to empower you as a teacher.What You’ll Learn:Confidence-Building Practices: Karen shares insights into how yoga teachers can cultivate genuine confidence in the classroom, focusing on mindset shifts rather than just memorizing sequences.Recognizing and Addressing Imposter Syndrome: Imposter syndrome is a common experience for yoga teachers, and Karen explains how to recognize when it arises and how to reframe those limiting beliefs.Teaching from What You Know vs. What You’re Told: Teaching authentically from what you know rather than repeating what others have said can significantly boost confidence and resonate better with your students.Simple Techniques to Cultivate Growth: From creating a “signature sequence” to practicing small mindset shifts, Karen offers specific techniques for developing a growth mindset in yoga teaching.Key Takeaways:Confidence is a mindset that you can train through self-reflection, practice, and reframing negative beliefs.Mindset affects everything—from how you sequence your classes to how you respond when things don’t go as planned.Teach from what you know rather than trying to replicate someone else’s style; this authenticity connects more deeply with students. (Remember: as we covered in S1E2, you’re not Bryan!)Reflecting on imposter syndrome and self-doubt can be the first step to transforming these beliefs into sources of strength.Listen to this episode to develop authentic confidence as a yoga teacher. Karen Fabian brings over 20 years of experience cultivating confidence in the classroom. Her suggestions will help you shed limiting beliefs and teach from a place of authenticity and presence.Resources:Karen’s podcast, Conversations for Yoga TeachersKaren’s website, Bare Bones YogaKaren on Instagram: @barebonesyogaJoin the Comfort Zone Yoga 200-hour yoga teacher training—curriculum is open now and our live cohort runs September through November 2026. Be sure to tell your students who are interested in teaching, too!Read all about it here.Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Join Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsAnd come explore my mentorship program, Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com....