How to find a good yoga instructor?

Author: Oksana Isaeva - yoga instructor.
2014-11-15

This question is posed by everyone who is interested in yoga, wants to improve their health, and rise to a new spiritual level.

Nowadays, many fitness clubs, having realized the popularity of yoga, invite instructors to their centers. It is quite common for fitness, Pilates, and dance instructors to also begin teaching yoga. Therefore, when approaching such a person, it’s worth asking if their lifestyle truly aligns with what they teach. Because yoga is not just fitness, aerobics, or a system of physical exercises; it is much more. Yoga is a way of life, a consciousness, a desire to merge with the Divine.

Today, I want to share my experience in searching for a qualified instructor. Once, like you, dear readers, I was also looking for my first yoga teacher.

Signs of a Qualified Yoga Instructor

1. Duration of Independent Practice

Yoga is, above all, a way of life. It is very important that this person lives it always and practices beyond the walls of the studio as well.

Typically, yoga instructors do not go to nightclubs, do not linger in cafes until midnight; instead, they go to bed according to their biological rhythms, wake up early, and practice spiritual or physical exercises. They are always calm, kind, and responsive. They strive to help people, animals, and the elderly. When you are near such a person, you want to communicate with them as much as possible.

2. Does the Instructor Have a Teacher?

It is practically impossible to master yoga through books and videos alone. Only a teacher can pass on their experience. Beware of those instructors who cannot name their teacher or their affiliation to a school. When a teacher imparts their knowledge to a student, they do not just show them how to perform poses (asanas) correctly, but also pass on their spiritual strength. They inspire through their example to improve practice and strengthen the spirit. It also happens that your favorite yoga instructor may have several teachers and schools. This indicates that they are in constant development and search for themselves.

3. Experience of at least 4 years

The thing is, if less time has passed, a person's consciousness will not change. Why would you go to an ordinary individual with the same passions as yours? The more a person practices specific techniques, the more influence they have on their physical and spiritual world, leading to an expanded consciousness and greater realizations in practice.

4. The Instructor Should Be of the Same Gender

Another important factor is the type of energy you receive during classes. It is more beneficial for women to practice with women, and for men with men. For example, if you are a young girl practicing with a male instructor, you may develop masculine qualities over time, and vice versa. Although I know many cases where men attend classes with female instructors, they are usually quite few in group settings.

For unmarried girls, it is advisable to attend classes conducted by a married female instructor. You will receive energy of calmness and proper feminine advice in various practices. After all, it is easier for a woman to understand the nuances of the female body than for a man. And vice versa.

5. Absence of Extraneous Attributes

Yoga is not a religion. The presence of icons, portraits of "leaders," etc., in a yoga hall indicates that you've entered not a Yoga School but a religious system. Therefore, be cautious and prudent.

6. Personal Qualities of the Instructor

It is also essential to pay attention to the personal qualities of your trainer. Traits like openness, honesty towards people, non-violence, and the instructor's genuine interest in your results are welcomed.

Yoga significantly influences the transformation of your consciousness. Therefore, after each class, listen to your inner world and how you feel. They should help you become better and tackle any obstacles along the way.

I hope that it will now be easier for you to find a qualified yoga instructor based on the criteria outlined above. All that’s left is to start moving in the chosen direction and listen to your intuition and heart. I wish you good luck!