Ever wondered why you just don’t gel with your yoga teacher? Rest reassured, there’s nothing to worry about! There are many factors that come into play.
It has happened to me too on several occasions. It was upsetting at the time because I thought that if she/he teaches yoga, then we would have plenty in common. But that's definitely not the case every time! And there are other reasons why it didn't match which I have listed below.
When I begin to talk about what I do for a living, what I frequently hear is this: “Oh, I really should start yoga” ,"I'd want to try but I'm not flexible enough". What I hear less frequently (because people are far too polite, but is undoubtedly a reality too) is this: “I tried yoga once and I didn’t feel it was for me”.
There are many reasons why a first experience of yoga can be off-putting. Or, later down the line, we start to wonder why we’re in the class we go to. But the reality is we change. And our yoga teacher might change too. We are evolving creatures, physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s easy to identify when the time of a yoga class is no longer a fit for us, but perhaps less so when our internal landscape shifts.
The reality is it’s not at all easy to find the right class, but there are several useful tips for successfully discovering the perfect yoga class for you. As a blog reader, you’ll likely know a fair amount about yoga, but if anyone in your family starts asking about classes – be assured, it doesn’t matter how highly they score on the newbie scale, and whatever their age or shape, there’s a class for them. As the saying goes: “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.”
How do you spot a good class? A well-trained yoga teacher will be able to accommodate all people into their class. If you’re in with a good one, you’ll notice that there are all ages and abilities taking part in the class and most of these people are too busy with their own practice to notice anyone else. It is important, though, to be firm about three things.
There will be beginners who prefer a physically challenging and strong class, while others, a gentler class. Some will prefer a meditative approach (Yin yoga for example) while others will want yoga for athletes (Vinyasa yoga for example). The choice is vast. It’s wise to contact the teacher beforehand to find out about the type of class, let them know what your yoga experience is and any physical issues you have. You will also want to know about the room they teach in and if there are mats, blocks or bolsters available for use for the class. I certainly appreciate this interest and it is an opportunity for me to start building rapport with my new student and really to find out what they are looking for in yoga. This might the only time I have a proper conversation with them too as often after class they will leave quickly to go back home.
Talkative yoga teachers aren’t for everyone, fast or slow pace is a personal preference – your reason for not enjoying a teacher’s class is never petty. It is your yoga and you and the teacher should be a good fit. Yoga teachers understand they will never suit everyone and I learnt that a long time ago: not every student is going to like me or I should say my style! Every yoga instructor has its very own style because we are all very different but there is a style for every student. The students who come to my class absolutely love me but it hasn't always been the case. A good teacher develop their own style over time and teach from a place of authenticity like me. If this means some students prefer another teacher, that is inevitable; the teachers will understand. I certainly do. What matters the most for me is to be myself at all times because if I am then I can enjoy teaching the class too and students do notice/feel when a teacher loves what she/he does or not. This impact the class and the students.
When you contact a teacher about attending a class, ask about their training and how they can accommodate any particular physical conditions you might have. Signs of a good teacher are that they will answer these questions easily and will make new students feel welcome and comfortable. Teachers should know the number of hours of their training, such as 200 hours or 500 hours. A sign of a badly-trained teacher is using competitive or forceful language when teaching. Yoga teachers should want you to practice at your level. Words like ’should’ or ‘push’ are ones that aren’t appropriate in yoga. Instead they should use sentences like 'listen to your body', 'don't force anything'. Many of my students have particular physical conditions which prevent them from doing some poses and it is very important for me to know them so I can adjust the pose for them. My students really do appreciate that.
Lastly, find a class that you can attend regularly, that way you’ll experience the benefits. You may love a yoga teacher, but the class is located across town at the end of your busiest day. Try as you may, you attend infrequently. It is ideal if you can find another class and teacher that you like as much that is more convenient. That way, you’ll attend classes regularly. You can go to the class or even workshops of that wonderful teacher that is so far away infrequently but still get the benefits from your regular local class.
There are websites that list local yoga teachers to you with the times of their classes so you can do a search by postcode. The Yoga Loupe is one of them. In essence, shopping around for your perfect yoga class is well worth it. You’ll know when you find it. It will be the one that has you floating out of the class on a cloud. Then you’ll ask yourself why you didn’t start sooner. We all do 🙂
List of yoga teacher directories:
https://yogaloupe.com/fr/?duration=short-class
https://www.resalib.fr/rechercher
https://www.annuaire-therapeutes.com/therapeutes/57-yoga/31-haute-garonne
http://www.annuaireduyoga.com/
https://www.yogaallianceinternationalregistry.com/search_results
FYI I did a 200 hours Vinyasa training with Stefan Camileri and a 30 hours Yin training with Kassandra Reinhardt.
I am listed on all the websites above.
Should you have any other queries about finding the right yoga instructor for you, just send me a message.
I teach Yin and Vinyasa class in and around Saint-Gaudens and also online in English for the moment for all levels.
Namaste
Christel
Français 
English (UK)