Finding the right words can be one of the most intimidating parts of becoming a yoga teacher.
We can become so accustomed to quoting teachers, books, poems and ancient texts that trusting our own voice feels surprisingly difficult. Yet developing that voice is part of growing as a teacher.
In this conversation with guest expert Zach Beach, we explore how yoga teachers can learn from the words of others while gradually developing the confidence to speak from their own experience.
Learn From Other People’s Words First
Trusting your own words does not mean you need to immediately abandon every poem, quotation or teaching that has inspired you.
Other people’s words can provide a valuable starting point.
Read poetry. Study yoga philosophy. Listen to teachers whose language moves you. Notice how they communicate complicated ideas simply and how particular words make you feel.
Think of these resources as a raft helping you cross a river. They support you while you need them, but eventually you may discover that you no longer need to cling to them.
The teachings you have studied begin to mingle with your own practice and lived experience. Gradually, your own language emerges.
Yoga Teachings Are Meant to Be Experienced
Studying traditional teachings matters, but yoga philosophy was never intended to remain purely intellectual.
Rather than accepting a teaching simply because it appears in a respected text or was said by a particular teacher, explore it through your own practice and experience.
That does not mean casually rewriting a tradition to suit ourselves.
It means studying, practising, questioning and noticing what the teaching reveals in our own lives.
As yoga teachers, we can then begin to communicate from somewhere deeper than memorisation. We are not simply repeating what somebody else told us. We have developed a relationship with the teaching ourselves.
Finding Your Voice Takes Practice
Writing and speaking are skills.
Like āsana, meditation or teaching itself, they improve through repetition.
If writing feels intimidating, begin without trying to create something profound. Put pen to paper, set a timer and keep writing. The first sentences might be complete nonsense. That is fine.
The purpose is initially to remove the expectation that every word needs to be wise enough to embroider onto a cushion.
From there, writing can become a craft. Explore metaphor, rhythm, imagery, repetition and the sound of language. Learn how other writers work and allow yourself to experiment.
Confidence rarely arrives before practice. It develops because of it.
Learn to Read Poetry in a Yoga Class
Sharing poetry effectively involves more than finding a beautiful poem and reading it aloud.
Think about three areas of awareness: your students, yourself and the words you are sharing.
During an active āsana practice, much of your attention needs to be on your students. When guiding meditation, more attention can move inwards as you communicate a particular quality of presence.
Poetry sits somewhere between the two.
Before reading, connect with the feeling behind the words. Slow down. Notice where the natural pauses occur. Allow the language to land rather than rushing towards the final line.
You are not performing the poem. You are creating an experience through it.
Protect the Silence of Śavāsana
Words can be particularly powerful during Śavāsana, precisely because they are surrounded by silence.
It can be useful to think about Śavāsana through three stages of relaxation: physical, mental and spiritual.
First, guide the body towards relaxation. Then encourage some release of mental activity. Finally, you might offer a poem, reflection or small piece of wisdom that speaks to something beyond the physical practice.
And then stop talking.
It is tempting as teachers to fill Śavāsana with instructions, music and beautiful words, but students also need space to receive and integrate the practice.
A poem can point towards something meaningful. Silence gives students room to experience it for themselves.
Listening Is Part of Finding Your Voice
Trusting your words is not only about becoming better at speaking.
It also requires becoming better at listening.
Yoga invites us to listen to the body before discomfort becomes impossible to ignore. We can listen to our emotions, relationships, values and sense of purpose with the same attention.
We can also learn to notice the constant commentary of the mind that makes genuine listening difficult.
For yoga teachers, this creates an interesting paradox: developing your voice does not necessarily require saying more.
Sometimes it requires becoming quiet enough to notice what is actually worth saying.
Your Words Do Not Need to Be Perfect
You do not need to become a poet to speak meaningfully in a yoga class.
Begin with the teachings and writers that inspire you. Study them carefully. Practise sharing their words. Explore the teachings through your own life and gradually experiment with expressing what you have discovered.
Write one sentence rather than searching for the perfect quotation. Share a simple reflection rather than attempting to sound profound.
Over time, you may discover that the words you were looking for were not missing.
You simply needed enough practice to trust them.
Find out more about Zach’s work: https://www.zachbeach.com/
RELATED: The Importance of Our Origin Story: Do You Ever Share Your Origin Story?
Join Our Community
Tags:
#YogaTeacherCollaborative #TrustYourWords #YogaTeacherVoice #TeachingYoga #YogaTeacherConfidence #YogaTeacherSupport #AuthenticTeaching #YogaPoetry #YogaPodcast #Workshop
