Finding the Right Yoga Teacher for You

Finding the right yoga teacher can make an enormous difference to your experience of yoga.

You might attend a class that other people seem to love, yet leave feeling uncomfortable, overwhelmed or simply unmoved. That does not necessarily mean yoga is not for you. It may simply mean that particular teacher, style or environment was not the right fit.

Every yoga teacher brings something different into the room. Our training, personality, life experiences and understanding of yoga all shape the way we teach.

I often say that finding a yoga teacher is a little like finding a therapist. Qualifications and experience matter, but so does the relationship. You need to feel comfortable, respected and able to be yourself.

Think about what you need from yoga

Before choosing a class, it can help to consider what you are looking for.

Perhaps you want to improve your mobility, strength or balance. You may be looking for support with stress, anxiety, sleep or the changes of menopause. Perhaps you are drawn to the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga, or you simply need an hour each week when nobody is asking anything of you.

Different teachers naturally focus on different aspects of yoga. Some classes are strong, fast and physically demanding. Others (like mine) are slower, quieter and more reflective. Some focus mainly on postures, while others include breathwork, meditation, philosophy and deep rest.

There is space for all these approaches. The important thing is finding the one that suits you.

What matters to me as a teacher

My own approach to yoga has been deeply shaped by my life.

I came to yoga teacher training during a period of profound grief, after losing both of my parents within six months. Yoga gave me somewhere to place that grief. It helped me feel grounded when much of my life felt uncertain, and it offered a sense of meaning, steadiness and connection.

I did not originally train because I wanted to teach. I trained because I wanted to understand yoga more deeply. By the time I qualified, however, I knew that I wanted to share some of what the practice had given me.

My classes are gentle, small and welcoming. I teach Hatha, Yin, Restorative Yoga, somatic movement, breathwork, meditation and yoga nidra. I also weave yoga philosophy into my teaching, because I believe yoga has so much more to offer us than physical postures alone.

For me, yoga is a way of living with greater awareness, compassion and steadiness. It is a way of meeting ourselves more honestly.

Gentle yoga can still be powerful

My classes are not workout classes, although they still build strength, mobility and balance.

We can begin to recognise where we brace, rush, compare or push through discomfort. We can become more aware of our breathing, our thoughts and the signals our bodies are giving us.

This kind of practice can sometimes feel emotional. Feelings may arise during a class, or even later that day. Before I became a teacher, I spent many yoga classes quietly crying because the space felt safe and peaceful enough for me to grieve.

That experience taught me never to assume that yoga is simply physical.

You should feel respected

A good yoga teacher should never make you feel ashamed of your body, your age, your ability or your experience.

You should be able to rest without feeling that you have failed. You should be able to choose a different version of a posture, or leave something out entirely, without having to explain yourself.

I do not use hands-on adjustments in my classes. I offer verbal guidance, demonstrate different possibilities and encourage people to explore what feels appropriate in their own body.

I want the people in my classes to develop trust in themselves, rather than looking to me to tell them exactly what their body should be doing.

Yoga should not take away your autonomy. It should help you reclaim it.

The atmosphere matters too

The setting of a class can be just as important as the sequence being taught.

Some people thrive in large, lively studio classes. Others feel more comfortable in a smaller group where they can get to know the teacher and the other people attending.

I currently teach in village halls in Isham, Pytchley and Little Harrowden. My classes are deliberately small and friendly, with space for questions, different bodies and different levels of experience.

My Yin classes are dimly lit and quiet. My Hatha classes are gentle and accessible. My Yoga for Women classes are shaped around women’s wellbeing, including the nervous system and hormonal transitions from menarche to menopause.

You do not need to be flexible, experienced or good at relaxing. You only need to arrive as you are.

Look beyond impressive postures

Social media can give the impression that the best yoga teacher is the person who can perform the most advanced poses. I do not believe that is true.

A teacher’s physical ability tells you very little about whether they can listen, adapt, explain clearly or create a supportive room. Years of training matter, but so do warmth, humility and the willingness to keep learning.

I continue to study because yoga is vast. No teacher knows everything, and I am wary of anyone who suggests otherwise.

The teachers I value most are not those who appear to have mastered yoga. They are the ones who remain curious, thoughtful and respectful of the people they teach.

It is a great idea to try more than one teacher

Even the most excellent teachers will not be right for everyone.

Some people want a physically challenging class. Some want silence, while others enjoy music. Some want a deeply spiritual practice, while others prefer a more practical approach.

My teaching is gentle, reflective and rooted in the wider traditions of yoga. That will feel like coming home to some people, but it may not be what everyone is looking for.

Choosing a different class is not a rejection of the teacher. It is simply part of listening to yourself.

You may also find that your needs change over time. The practice that supported you five years ago may not be what you need now.

The right teacher helps you return to yourself

The right yoga teacher will not try to make you more like them.

They will offer guidance while allowing you to remain the authority on your own experience. They will understand that bodies, nervous systems and lives are different. They will make space for rest, uncertainty, laughter, emotion and ordinary humanness.

Most importantly, they will help you understand that yoga is not something you need to be good at. It is a practice of listening, noticing and returning.

The right teacher simply helps you find your way back to yourself.