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7 (Sort of) True Yoga Teacher Stereotypes (Funny)

What makes a person want to be a yoga teacher? Yoga teachers, no matter creed, color, gender, nor age, must have a lot in common. Is there an underlying motivation for all of us? Or does everyone have different reasons?

We’re a different breed, attracted to a profession that is neither easy nor, if we’re being honest, lucrative.

It sounds something like this: “Sure, I’ll put my body, mind, and soul through hellfire to work my butt off, while not really getting paid that much.”

What are commonalities of yoga teachers? Why do we want to do this?

And, for the yoga students, who are these people who twist us, turn us upside down, help us to balance in handstands, and more?
 

Here Are 7 Funny and Kinda True Stereotypes About Yoga Teachers

Surely all of us stand on some common ground, so here are 7 sort-of, kind-of, at least half-truths about yoga teachers. These stereotypes are just that – stereotypes, and so they should be taken lightly. I am one, and I can make fun of myself.
 
So let’s all relax and learn to laugh at ourselves, shall we?
 

1. We’re a Little Nuts

The people who love yoga the most are the people who need it the most. And, arguably, yoga teachers love yoga the most. Yoga feels grounding to flighty types who are all over the place (like yours truly).
 
Yoga feels spacious to those who have too much stuff cluttering their minds and souls. It feels freeing to people who feel like they live in straight jackets. The nuttier the person, the stronger the result. The stronger the result, the more likely the lost and found will want to spread the good news and provide it for others.
 
 

2. We’re Control Freaks

Tell me that a person who is ordering you to move your body into certain positions, to breathe a certain way, even what to put in your mind is not a control freak. And then I’ll send you back up to #1.
 
Yoga teachers love telling other people what to do. We’re born to tell you what to do and how to do it, from your pinky toe to the crown of your head. The more detailed the instruction of the pose, the more controlling the teacher.
 

3. We Love Attention

We could have gone into acting, dancing, singing, or some other show business, but we couldn’t pull it together or care enough to chase our half-dreams. But that does not change the fact that we crave the limelight, and that we need the spotlight.
 
So we opted to stand in front of a room of sweaty people who look at and listen to us for an hour or so while we feel the high of being a star.
 

4. We Are People-Pleasers

Truly, if you look at the whole game of yoga, it exists to make people reach goals and feel good. Yoga teachers go into it wanting to do whatever it takes to make the people around them happy, at any cost.
 
Money? Take it. Time? Here it is. Health? I can eat later. Sweat and tears? Don’t need them. “What do you need? Surely, yoga can provide it for you. Surely, as a yoga teacher, I can be the one who helps you find it.”
 
 

5. We Like to Feel Superior

No one loves to give advice quite like a yoga teacher. We are the parents of our student-children, and we want to figure this out for you, whatever it is. Because this makes us feel like we know more than the student.
 
The sensation of sitting in front of a bunch of vulnerable, supine people during Savasana is some kind of weird high-and-mighty moment.
 
 

6. We May, or May Not, Have Weird Beliefs About Money

We’re not getting rich as yoga teachers. Everyone knows that. But still, we go to expensive training after training, festival after festival, class after class to hone our skills, to get better at our job.
 
Sometimes it seems like we’re spending more than we’re making. Sometimes it feels like we think we don’t deserve money.
 
Sometimes it feels like, because we’re all spiritual and really holy, we think money is dirty so we don’t want it. Sometimes we think materialism will take away our yoga teacher-ness.
 
Recommended Read: Get Rid of These 25 Things to Declutter Your Life
 
 

7. We Have Big, Brave Hearts

All of that said, it’s obvious we love it. And so we do this out of love. We might even love you too. It’s obvious the practice saved us at some point. It’s obvious that we want to give back what we received through the yoga.
 
In all honesty, it’s public speaking and it’s scary to stand up in front of a bunch of people and put them in risky positions.
 
It’s risky to invest in the certification process too. It takes a lot of upfront capital and some balls. But it really takes a lot of heart and service. If any of these sort-of-true stereotypes is actually true, it’s probably this one.
 

The Takeaway

As yoga teachers, we’re all different and simultaneously all the same. We are cut from a special cloth of people who are comfortable being uncomfortable. But most of all, we all want to share this crazy love of yoga with all of our loyal students.
 
Thank a yoga teacher today, and if you are one, pat yourself on the back.
 

This article has been read 10K+ times. Bada bing!

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Liza Jones

Bio: Liza is the founder of soulrises.com and is a certified yoga teacher + certified nutrition consultant. Her intention is to uplift souls everywhere through yoga, meditation, holistic nutrition and mindfulness. Raise your vibe every day.

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