MINDSET ALCHEMY: SHIFTING FEAR AND FEELING INADEQUATE AS A YOGA TEACHER

You completed your first teacher training and felt so enthusiastic about this new life path and the journey ahead. Now that you’re getting started your confidence hits a roadblock... 

Perhaps you’ve been teaching for a long time, and have been sharing the wisdom of the ages for years, but these days everywhere you look is a new studio, or a new yoga ‘coach’ launching a bright shiny program. Whether new or experienced yogi, it can often feel like the ‘yoga world’ is getting totally saturated, making you feel drowned out and directionless.

In 2020 especially, many yoga teachers went online (some for the first time).  On this worldwide platform, we are faced with the multitude of yoga options available: 30 Day Challenges, Nutritional Cleanses, Coaching, Workshops, Trainings - you name it, it’s out there.  It’s no wonder that it can feel overwhelming, and very daunting to share your personal yoga experience with the wider world when it seems that there’s just so much high quality and experienced yoga ‘out there.’

What's the point in trying to compete?  

Well, before you throw out the yoga mat and grab the takeout menu, let’s take a look at what’s really going on here. 

First off, 'compare' and 'despair' go hand in hand. So, forget about trying to match others and fight for a place in this world - you already exist!

Second, is it really the case that you have nothing new to offer?  That there is no room for another Vibrant Vegan Yogi like you? Think again.

Here, you need to come back into your own world. Forget the billion dollar advertising industry that strategically places all your own interests before your eyes at any given digital opportunity. Remember when you used to get ‘signals’ from the universe walking down a quiet street, or meet a new person who shared similar life views? These are the sources of true creative inspiration, a snap back to old-school reality. So, forget virtual for a moment, and let’s get back to the grit of living.

Coming back to basics helps you remember the uniqueness of your life, which will ultimately set you apart from others. Knowing what  makes you unique is not always just to carve an edge to ‘dominate’ the scene with your new niche (although that can happen), but a way to voice your own perspectives and share your experience with your desired community. We create connections with people of all backgrounds and welcome others to share in that vibe by sharing who we are, what we value, and making others feel comfortable to participate in what gets us through our days.

Remember that what you have done for yourself through your yoga journey is what you will go on to teach others.  You are here to lead by example and guide others along the way.  When you feel that there are just ‘too many yoga teachers’ saturating your local area, or ‘stealing’ all the social media attention, see if you can come back to the original gift yoga gave you and find a new way of teaching from that place.

If you are feeling particularly anxious about putting yourself ‘out there,’ you can take yourself through the following process as a way to reset. This 15 minute exercise is a great way to shift moments of fear, and any lack or comparison mentality.

In order to put out a clear and sustainable yoga vibe, we need to come back to our deepest sense of purpose and drive. Go ahead and journal through the following steps:

Remember your Personal ‘Why?’ 

1. Why does yoga and yogic living attract you? 

2. How did you know this was/is something you needed (or still need) to pursue?

3. Why did you decide to complete a Yoga Teacher Training, or why now/in the future?

From those responses, you should reveal a perfect statement about why you practice yoga, how it has helped you, and likely how and why you wish to delve more deeply into learning more and sharing what you know.

Reveal Your Mindset 

1. How does it make you feel to think that the world is ‘too full’ of successful yoga teachers?

2. Does it make you want to follow your own path to happiness more or less?

3. Is there something about you, and your own life experience that you want to share with others?

These questions are helping to uncover the hidden fear (or enthusiasm!) around entering a very popular ‘industry,’ how it can stifle/ or enhance your own needs and personal growth, and how your own journey is what will make you helpful to those that need you.

Mindset Alchemy: Transform Your View

1. Take the energy from your Personal Why by reading your answers aloud. This is gathering your Truth and connection to your yoga journey.

2. Gather the three elements of the Reveal Your Mindset step and read them aloud.  

(i.e. “When I think the world is too full of other yoga teachers, it makes me feel insignificant and unable to offer anything worthwhile.  It sometimes makes me less inclined to work on my own personal progress, but know that my life experience has shaped me into a very aware, kind, and understanding person.”)

3. Now, time for the Mindset Alchemy. Reframe your current mindset in a way that presents your view more positively and constructively, so there is something to work with/towards. 

(i.e. “With a world full of yoga teachers, I know that I am joining a very useful and much needed profession that is important for global change. With so much knowledge available, I am able to learn more about my specific areas of interest, and I will be able to help others who have experienced similar challenges in their life before learning yoga.”)

Declare a Dedication

1. Take your reframed statement, making any changes you wish to really create an impactful statement. This is now your Declare a Dedication statement that voices your commitment to following your heart and pursuing a life of truth seeking and personal fulfilment.  

There you have it!  Take your Declare a Dedication statement, and put it somewhere where you can see it every day.

This is a very important step to keep your mindset lifted, where you can access the creativity and clarity needed to be your best self.

You can come back to this process anytime you need to shift the mindset of comparison, fear, self-doubt and lack. It is all too common in this world of perpetual advertising that keeps us in a competitive and comparison mindset.  Feeling inadequate, or assuming there is ‘not enough’ for you can make it impossible to take even the first step towards helping the students who need you. 

After all, there is a student for every teacher, and only one teacher like YOU! 

With that said… check out my next blog, “3 Reasons Why There Can Never Be Too Many Yoga Teachers”