Why I decided to become a yoga teacher

I’d already been practicing yoga for many years when I made the decision to become a teacher, so why did I choose this path after so long being perfectly happy as a student? 

Ironically, it was having to take time away from yoga that prompted me to teach. Due to an unfortunate knee injury (a bad landing while trampolining), subsequent operation and rehab I had to stop going to classes. I did my best to adapt and kept up a limited practice but the enforced time away from my usual routine left a huge hole in my life.  

This yearning to get back on the mat made me feel that I wanted to commit myself to yoga more deeply than ever. I had been toying with the idea of teaching for many years but suddenly I knew it was exactly what I needed to do.

Years ago, on a yoga retreat, I was talking to a couple of the teachers about why they’d got into it. One of them said that they wanted to spread the benefits of yoga to everyone, I nodded, agreeing that was a great reason to teach. But then the other teacher said something that has stayed with me all this time, ‘I became a teacher because I wanted yoga to BE my life.’

Becoming a teacher was the oportunity I needed to make yoga a more prominent part of my life, not something that I did in my ‘spare time’ when I’d done all the other tasks that I ‘needed’ to do first. Instead, it is the main focus of my day, every day. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love my other job very much and I’ve no intention of giving it up completely. But, I’ve worked that particular role for 26 years and much as I love it, I know there is more to me than that. Teaching pushes me out of my comfort zone and allows me to spread my wings a little in an alternative direction. 

Being a yoga teacher also gives me the opportunity to support people just like you on your own yoga journey. I have learnt so much, from many inspiring and knowledgable teachers, and from my own personal experience and I love to share that in all of my classes.