#60: The Yoga Community & The Yoga Teacher

Every yoga student needs is a teacher. The spiritual journey of yoga should never be ventured into alone. Teachers fuel our spiritual growth on his path, but it can be hard to find a balance between learning from and over-idolizing the yoga teacher.  Learning needs a balance between a healthy notion of self-worth and humility. Finding this balance is a feat we yoga students have to face more than once. Had it not been for my own yoga teachers I would not be here teaching you today, but I still had to work to find that balance.  I learned to recognize teachers as imperfect and fallible human beings. You cannot put your teacher on a pedestal because no living being can be perfect. As long as you hold someone up to an unachievable standard, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.  Worse than that, you're more likely to hold yourself up to these same ridiculous standards, which will only harm your spiritual growth. Is it possible to avoid putting your yoga teacher on a pedestal?  Yes, but it takes practice. I share stories here of my own yoga teachers to help you understand the importance of learning from a space of humility. Remember that through the yoga practice you are seeking a community with other human beings who are on this same path. When it comes to yoga teachers, they are simply farther along on this path.  Think of it like this - you're lost on a roadway with no cell service and you stop to ask for directions. We are going to get lost and stumble on this yoga journey, and a yoga teacher is there to give you directions. They have the knowledge and forethought to lead you a little further, but they are not the absolute authority over your practice.  Your yoga practice is the art of building a community, and any authority you give a yoga teacher undermines that sense of togetherness we are trying to build. Yoga teachers don't need a pedestal. We want you to respect and learn from our experience and to give yourself this same level of respect. Keep practicing and respect yourself for the things that you've learned and the work you are putting in on your own path, and I promise you will make your yoga teacher proud.  I want to keep inspiring you to continue your practice. Send an email at [email protected] and tell me - what does yoga mean to you? You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. Stay connected: @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial View my teaching schedule, blogs, etc on Kinoyoga.com Get your free 30 day membership on Omstars.com& use code: PODCAST