A yoga teacher - just a person or an exceptional inspirational person who must set an example?
Yoga today is no longer just an ancient practice but has become a lifestyle and a philosophy.
Whether you are entering a yoga studio for the first time or deepening an established practice, the presence of a yoga teacher can feel like an anchor.
Many people see yoga teachers as a source of inspiration and expect them to embody calm, wisdom, and balance on and off the mat. But are they exceptional, noble personalities, or just human beings who evolve and learn like the rest of us?
The answer lies somewhere in the middle.
The teacher as an example
Yes, yoga teachers are often seen as spiritual guides, not just instructors. They embody more than physical flexibility; they often represent values such as mindfulness, compassion, patience, and inner peace. This expectation can put tremendous pressure on them to be living examples of yogic philosophy.
Consider the case of Seane Corn, a globally renowned yoga teacher who has dedicated much of her life to social justice and community service. Her journey shows that while yoga teachers can appear calm and focused, they also struggle with personal issues. Corn spoke openly about her struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and how yoga has helped her heal, emphasizing that the teacher's journey is a constant work in progress. Her journey shows that although yoga teachers are expected to inspire, their humanity is often what makes their example so powerful. Their struggles remind us that no one is perfect and that yoga is a process of constant growth.
Life Values: Balancing
Yoga teachers often have a deep sense of connection to life values that transcend the mat. They are expected to live by the principles of yoga - truthfulness (satya), non-violence (ahimsa), and self-discipline (tapas). But what happens when life presents challenges that make it difficult to uphold these values?
Tara Brach, a well-known meditation teacher, had to face her deep affection for achieving personal goals in life. She openly shares her experience of realizing that even in the spiritual world, one can fall into the trap of ambition. Her story serves as a reminder that yoga teachers are human beings who must constantly reflect on their values. They strive to practice non-attachment (aparigraha), but they must also balance the realities of everyday life where desires, fears, and ambitions still exist.
What makes yoga teachers inspiring is not their ability to embody these values perfectly all the time, but their willingness to remain committed to the path, no matter how difficult or messy it is.
The teacher as another person
There is a paradox in the expectations we place on yoga teachers. On the one hand, we place high expectations on them because they represent a path to greater self-awareness and peace. On the other hand, they are people with their own lives, emotions, struggles, and limitations.
In the story of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, there are moments that reflect his own humanity. He was a dedicated teacher, but he had his own cultural biases and shortcomings that sometimes clashed with the modern Western view of yoga. These cases show that even the greatest yoga masters are not infallible; they are shaped by their upbringing, experiences, and personal limitations.
While some students might expect their teachers to be free of malice, judgment, or imperfection, the reality is that yoga teachers are also students of life. They are not here to put themselves on a pedestal, but to remind us that the path of yoga is about becoming more present and compassionate, both with ourselves and with others.
I have struggled for a long time with an unbalanced personality that made things difficult in my personal and professional life. I couldn't accept my physical imperfections and sometimes found myself wishing I was someone else entirely and failing to appreciate my strengths. My problems managed to humiliate my self-love and self-esteem, hence my self-confidence was nil.
Isn't that possible? Yes, it is. Yoga taught me values, constant evolution, and to find a direction that showed me the true beauty of life and a way that can fulfill me in life.
The transformative power of yoga
What really sets many yoga teachers apart is their ability to transform. They are not born exceptional, they become inspirational through the practice itself. Every yoga teacher has a personal story to tell - whether it's overcoming personal trauma, healing from illness, or discovering peace after years of stress. The practice transforms them, and they in turn become beacons of that transformation for others.
Consider Rodney Yee, who began his career as a professional ballet dancer. When an injury forced him to quit, yoga became his path to recovery. What began as a way to cope with failure changed his entire life. Yoga changed his relationship with his body, mind, and spirit, and today he shares this wisdom with thousands of students around the world.
Yoga teachers often experience these shifts and serve as a reminder that change is possible for everyone. That's why their stories resonate - they show us that transformation through yoga is achievable for everyone, not just a select few.
A beautiful duality
So are yoga teachers exceptional people who need to lead by example, or are they just people navigating life's challenges like everyone else?
The truth is, they are both. Yoga teachers are unique because they choose to live by values that challenge the norms of modern society.
They teach us to slow down, breathe, and be present. They encourage us to listen to our inner self in a world that values productivity over introspection.
At the same time, they are human. They are angry, sad, frustrated, and overwhelmed just like everyone else. What makes them special is not their perfection, but their commitment to the path of self-discovery and their willingness to share that path with others, despite their imperfections.
A yoga teacher is not an unattainable figure to be admired from afar, but rather a fellow traveler on the path of self-discovery, making mistakes, and learning along the way.
By being both extraordinary and human, they set an example for us all - not of perfection, but of possibility.
Ultimately, the greatest lesson a yoga teacher can offer is this:
Embrace your humanity, trust the process, and allow yoga to guide you to your higher self, one breath at a time...
How do you feel about your yoga teacher? Do you consider him/her a spiritual mentor?
Let me know your experiences and insights in the comments...
