What Keeps Me Going as a Yoga Teacher?

People often say to me, "It must be amazing teaching so much yoga."

And it is — I appreciate it so much. The practice has been a complete game-changer for me in so many ways, and sharing it is the only thing I've really felt at home doing.

But I have to be honest: there are mornings I don't feel like it.

The mat feels heavy before I've even unrolled it, my body is tired, and a quiet voice inside asks why I keep showing up week after week. And then there's all the admin that comes with it.

But then I arrive at the space I'm teaching, and I find myself in a kaleidoscope of places! Wellbeing hubs, community centres, studios, the local park, one-to-one sessions. And something happens. 

People arrive — some I've taught for years, some are there for the first time. I know that everyone is carrying something, visible or invisible — a hard week, a loss, a grumpy lower back, a body that hasn't felt like their own in a while. Some chat, some don't say much.

I have a rough plan of what I'd like to share, but it often changes as I adapt to who's in the room and the energy I’m meeting. And by the end of the class, something has shifted in the energy. Not always dramatically, sometimes I might notice a softer face, a smile, people easefully connecting. Sometimes, the shift is profound — tears, shaking, laughing, big releases.

So this answers the question - What keeps me going as a yoga teacher?

People often tell me the breathing practices help with anxiety or PTSD. That they feel more stressed in their everyday life if they don't come to class each week. That it's one of the only times they leave their home in the week to come and be in a supportive space with other people. That they appreciate being given a space to be how they need to be, with no pressure or expectation. That the movements help them find more ease in their bodies and help them move better. And the list goes on.

And this is why I do it, and love it. I'd be lying if I said I didn't benefit, too. There's a strange kind of reciprocity — from the coregulation, from finding my own balance in life, and from the sense of purpose it gives me.

Therapeutic yoga isn't a performance. It's not about turning up to "do" yoga. It's about kindly meeting what we can in our practice, and bringing in the tools of yoga to regulate, to connect, and to move with the breath.

And, importantly, to be in community with those we are practising with — and this includes me. I get back every bit as much as I give. Connection, community — these are things we can’t do without, but which in today’s world can be hard to find.

I hold many classes, workshops, and one-to-ones, and would love to share with you. 

You can find them here: Classes and Workshops.

I'm always happy to hear from you if you have any questions about classes. With Kindness, Tammy x