{"id":2210,"date":"2026-01-01T12:29:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T06:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/?p=2210"},"modified":"2026-01-01T12:29:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T12:29:16","slug":"confessions-of-a-certified-yoga-teacher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/confessions-of-a-certified-yoga-teacher\/","title":{"rendered":"Confessions of a Certified Yoga Teacher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Real Journey of a Certified Yoga Teacher: Beyond the Mat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A yoga teacher might seem like someone for whom the art of yoga comes naturally and easily. However, behind this composed exterior lies a tumultuous past. The relentless hours of dedicated practice and theory lessons, combined with courage and direction, shape a true yoga teacher. Just like anyone else, yoga teachers face insecurities and work through these apprehensions one day at a time to achieve their goals. A guru or teacher is constantly striving for more knowledge. Despite their poised presence, teachers have their own tales of imperfection, feelings of guilt and shame, and everyday battles in and out of asanas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"575\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-542.png\" alt=\"Certified Yoga Teacher\" class=\"wp-image-20640\" style=\"width:434px;height:auto\" title=\"Certified Yoga Teacher\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-542.png 575w, https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-542-480x355.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 575px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Irregularity in Routine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though yoga is a lifelong practice, there are days when I don\u2019t feel like practicing. The discipline brings me to the mat, but sometimes, I just want to stay in bed or binge-watch <em>Game of Thrones<\/em>. When I do practice, I might not be as precise and disciplined as I am in class. The control I advocate in class is occasionally missing from my own practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>Enroll in a <strong>Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher training<\/strong> to gain internationally recognized credentials and confidently start your journey as a professional yoga teacher.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Self-Doubt vs Self-Belief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When I encourage students to believe in themselves, I am also reminding myself. I strive to practice yoga principles in daily life, but there are times when I question my skills and abilities. While I can explain complex methodologies with ease, I sometimes struggle with simpler concepts. Even I need to consult my guru for answers to things I don&#8217;t fully understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-08-14-at-2.24.49-PM-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Student showing his 200 hour yttc certificate\" class=\"wp-image-27613\" style=\"width:313px;height:auto\" title=\"Student showing his 200 hour yttc certificate\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Urge for Carbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A common misconception is that yoga teachers adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet. The truth is, I enjoy indulging in carbs like burgers and pizza, and occasionally, I have a couple of glasses of wine. Many yoga teachers are not vegetarians at all. Yoga encourages us to be ourselves and improve gradually. Just like you, I am learning to manage my cravings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Attachment to Attachments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite teaching the importance of detachment from emotions and observing events objectively, I sometimes find myself entangled in attachments. Even though I understand karma and the cycle of good and bad deeds, I occasionally struggle to remain motivated and avoid negative thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the midst of teaching and learning, it&#8217;s essential to remember that to err is human, but to forgive is divine. So, when you see a yoga teacher, understand that they are hardworking individuals striving to balance their practice and personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>Join a certified program and <strong>get certified to teach yoga<\/strong>, opening the path to sharing your practice and guiding others on their yoga journey.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Yoga-TTC-Certificate.png\" alt=\"Group of students showing their YTT certificate\" class=\"wp-image-27614\" style=\"width:428px;height:auto\" title=\"Group of students showing their YTT certificate\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Yoga-TTC-Certificate.png 420w, https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Yoga-TTC-Certificate-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Yoga-TTC-Certificate-150x113.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>ake the next step in your practice and <strong>become a certified yoga teacher<\/strong> to confidently guide others and share the transformative benefits of yoga. Being a yoga teacher involves more than just guiding others through asanas; it\u2019s a journey of personal growth and overcoming internal struggles. As you embark on your own yoga journey, whether through our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-in-kerala\/\">200 Your Yoga Teacher Training In India<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/300-hour-yoga-teacher-training-in-kerala\/\">300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training In India<\/a>, or 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training In India, remember that both teachers and students are continuously learning and evolving. Embrace the process, acknowledge the struggles, and celebrate the growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><em>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training\/\">Is 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Enough to Build a Successful Teaching Career?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q1. How did you know you were ready for a yoga teacher training?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> I felt a strong pull to enhance my ypga practice beyond just the mat and share what I learned, so I committed to a training course and embraced the transformation that followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q2. What surprised you most about becoming a certified yoga teacher?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> I was surprised by how much inner work &amp; self\u2011reflection are involved, being strong in asana is only part of the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q3. Can you still have \u201coff\u201d days even after completing teacher training?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> Yes, even now I sometimes skip my own practice or struggle with motivation and reminding myself that being human is part of the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q4. How did certification change your relationship with students?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> Certification gave me more confidence, but it also made me more humble, noticing that students bring as much to the class as I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q5. Is teaching yoga all about physical poses and healthy living?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> Not entirely, while asanas are visible, the real growth happens through mindset, breath awareness, and continuous learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q6. What advice do you have for someone thinking of doing yoga teacher training?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> Choose a school with a good curriculum, be ready for inner growth, and accept that training is just the beginning of your teaching journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q7. Do you have to give up your lifestyle when you become a yoga teacher?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> No, I still indulge in simple pleasures like carbs or occasional wine; authenticity matters more than perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q8. How do you deal with self\u2011doubt as a yoga teacher?<\/strong><br><strong>Ans:<\/strong> I remind myself that even teachers have doubts, so I lean on my practice, mentors and community to keep growing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Real Journey of a Certified Yoga Teacher: Beyond the Mat A yoga teacher might seem like someone for whom the art of yoga comes naturally and easily. However, behind this composed exterior lies a tumultuous past. The relentless hours of dedicated practice and theory lessons, combined with courage and direction, shape a true yoga [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/yoga-teachers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>yoga teacher<\/strong><\/a> might appear to his students, as someone to whom the art &nbsp;of yoga comes naturally and&nbsp; easily. But behind the composed exterior lies a tumultuous past. The relentless hours of dedicated practice and theory lessons, when put together with courage and direction, forms a yoga teacher. Just like any other person, even they have several insecurities and are working on these apprehensions, one day at a time to reach to their desired goals. A guru, a teacher, is complete in the image of desire for more knowledge. Stepping in a class on the pedestal made of thrones, a teacher too has some things to confess to his students. He wants to tell his tale of imperfection, his feeling of guilt and shame and just like his students discuss his everyday battle in and out of asanas.\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/rishikul-yogshala41.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/rishikul-yogshala41-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"rishikul-yogshala41\" width=\"550\" height=\"309\"><\/a>\n\n<strong>Irregularity in the routine<\/strong>\n\nWell, even though I understand that yoga is not a day\u2019s work, still I have days, where I do not feel like practicing yoga. The discipline brings me to the mat, but I still want to go back and sleep for some more time. The urge to stay lazy and watch some more episodes of the game of thrones still rules me at times. And when I practice, I might not be as hard and precise as I am in the class. The control that I talk of in the class, on the body, I do miss out on that on some days.\n\n<strong>Self doubt or self belief<\/strong>\n\nEach time I tell in the class to believe in oneself, I am also reminding myself. I &nbsp;do practice yoga principles in my daily&nbsp; life but still there are times when I question myself, my skills and my &nbsp;abilities. &nbsp;While I explain deeper&nbsp; methodologies with ease, I still might lack explanation to simpler things. Even I have to go to my guru to seek answers for things I do not understand.\n\n<strong>The urge for carbs<\/strong>\n\nOkay, the biggest myth and a confession as well, I have to tell you that I don\u2019t have a gluten free diet. I do want to binge eat and taste the whole loads of carbs a burger or pizza has. And mind you, I do indulge in a couple of wine glasses at times. I know yoga teachers who are not even vegetarians at all. Yoga demands us to be ourselves and strive for betterment one day at a time, and with you, even I am learning to keep my urges in me.\n\n<strong>The attachment to attachment<\/strong>\n\nAll the knowledge that I shareon the attitude of being detached from emotions and just observing other people, events and situations, I do at times fall in the loop of attachment. Even though I understand the theory of karma, the loop of good and bad deeds, the reason for disappointment, I still fall short of motivation to keep away from the negative thoughts.\n\nIn the midst of all the teaching and learning, it is important to remember that to err is human but to forgive is divine. So the next time a student sees a yoga teacher he should understand that s\/he is a hard working person and is trying hard to cope up.","_et_gb_content_width":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yoga"],"modified_by":"Rishikul Yogshala","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2210"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27622,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210\/revisions\/27622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rishikulyogshala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}