I often find myself questioning the yoga instructors at my gym. They navigate the same bustling city that I do, competing for their tiny patch of sidewalk at busy crosswalks, and hustling to classes after enduring chaotic days. I can’t help but wonder how they maintain such an aura of tranquility while I struggle to find stillness and often feel irritable.
What thoughts race through the mind of a yoga teacher as she guides us through sun salutations? What is she contemplating while gently adjusting my posture in downward dog? Is she genuinely as enlightened as her serene “namaste” suggests?
A recent video sheds light on the true thoughts of a yoga teacher during class. “Yoga instructors, from my experience, are just as flawed as anyone else,” remarked my friend Lisa, a yoga teacher based in California, when I inquired if yogis operate on a higher spiritual level than the rest of us.
“But you face the same life challenges I do, how can you exude such peace and composure?” I asked Lisa.
“I’m honest with my class when I’m having a tough day. Most students appreciate the honesty, but afterward, I have to switch gears because they’re paying for my time,” Lisa elaborated. That perspective resonates with me—while I might suspect my yoga instructor isn’t perpetually cheerful, I wouldn’t want her to dwell on her troubles during class. Lisa continued, “By the end of class, I often feel uplifted, and usually, someone shares that they feel better too, which reminds me that it’s not all about me.”
Interesting. She certainly seems balanced and insightful about her experiences. However, she added, “That said, I did have one student I found particularly challenging.”
I wasn’t surprised.
Some memorable quotes from the video included:
- “If I see one more man with a bun—not a ponytail, but an honest-to-goodness bun! With a scrunchie! And those Birkenstocks! Like he’s some kind of homeless samurai! And he’s the one turning me down!”
- “Reach up into the sky…like you’re at the airport getting a pat-down because they found 150 mls of apple butter in your bag.”
- “Come on up into tree pose—if you can remember a tree standing tall and not burned to the ground or clear-cut.”
- “Stay in the present, because there is no future—because the government sold it to the highest bidder.”
- “Just breathe. Your life means nothing, and your children’s lives are worth nothing.”
This article was first published on July 23, 2005.
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In summary, the reality of yoga teachers is more relatable than often portrayed. They too grapple with the same struggles as their students but strive to create a space of calm and healing, even amidst personal challenges. Their journey reflects the complexities of life and the importance of community in navigating it.